Literati China: Examinations, Neo-Confucianism, and Later Imperial China
Discovery China's imperial period
Join Harvard University faculty in this course to explore China’s imperial period, with a focus on the Song dynasty and the role of the exam system in government.
1-3 hours per week
What You'll Learn
Fundamental changes in government, the economy, and broader society took place between the 8th and 11th centuries in China. The state aristocracy gave way to new literati elite: educated men who sought to enter government through competitive examinations. A new kind of Confucianism also took shape, which prized the moral autonomy of individuals. With this, the later imperial period of China’s history begins.
From our series on Chinese history and culture, this course focuses on the changes brought by the Tang-Song transition, including the reconfiguration of power, urbanization, Neo-Confucianism, and the shared values as expressed in the state examination system.
Join us to learn how a shifting social and political elite ultimately brings unity to China, ushering in an age of global empire.
The course will be delivered via edX and connect learners around the world. By the end of the course, participants will learn:
- How to break history into periods based on social, political, economic, intellectual, and cultural changes.
- How to develop your own unique approach to history.
- How to gain a critical appreciation of China’s literary, philosophical, political, and cultural resources.
- How to express ideas more clearly and confidently.
- How to think critically through the study of primary and secondary sources.
Your Instructors
Peter K. Bol
Charles H. Carswell Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations
at Harvard University
Read full bio.
Ways to take this course
When you enroll in this course, you will have the option of pursuing a Verified Certificate or Auditing the Course.
A Verified Certificate costs $149 and provides unlimited access to full course materials, activities, tests, and forums. At the end of the course, learners who earn a passing grade can receive a certificate.
Alternatively, learners can Audit the course for free and have access to select course material, activities, tests, and forums. Please note that this track does not offer a certificate for learners who earn a passing grade.