In this online course, you'll learn about the history and culture of early China, and about recent archeological discoveries that are re-shaping our understanding of the period:

• The Neolithic Origins of Chinese culture
• The (mythical?) Xia dynasty
• The Shang and their oracle bones
• The Western Zhou period and their bronzes
• The Spring & Autumn period and the decline of the Zhou
• The Warring States period and the hundred schools of thought
• The earliest empires: the Qin and Han

In addition to the lectures, Q&A sessions, and discussion forum, there are also video walking tours of several museums in China, plus thousands of photographs of the various artifacts on display.

• In this online course, you'll learn about Chinese literature from the earliest poems up to the start of the 19th century and familiarize yourself with some of the major landmarks:
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  • The Canon of Odes (Shījīng 詩經/诗经)
  • Laozi and Zhuangzi
  • Qu Yuan and the Chǔ Cí 楚辭/楚辞
  • Works of history like the Zuǒzhuàn 左傳/左传 and the Shǐjì 史記/史记
  • Poetry from the Northern and Southern Dynasties
  • Tang Poetry, some of the best-known Chinese poems
  • Song dynasty lyric poetry
• • Yuan dramas
• • Ming and Qing novels, including the Story of the Stone/Dream of Red Chamber Hónglóumèng 紅樓夢/红楼梦
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• No knowledge of Chinese is assumed or required! All reading will be in English translation, although the Chinese original will also be provided for those who want it.

• A University-level course on Chinese philosophical texts and their practical underpinnings from the Warring States period to the Western Han (450 BCE to 50 BCE), including newly unearthed manuscripts!
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• In this course, you will learn about the philosophy and practice cultures found not just in received texts like The Analects of Confucius and the Daodejing, but also in unearthed manuscript texts that have revolutionized our thinking about early Chinese philosophy, religion, and history.
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• You will learn about:
  • The Zuozhuan and the fascinating new Xinian historical text.
  • The Confucian Analects, Mengzi, and Xunzi, along with new “Confucian” unearthed counterparts.
  • The Daoist Daodejing, Zhuangzi, and Huainanzi, along with the long-neglected Daoist chapters of the Guanzi, paired with revolutionary new “Daoist” unearthed manuscripts with titles like “All Things Flow into Form,” and “The Constant Primary.”
  • The philosophy and practice behind early Chinese divination, both from the Yijing and the newly unearthed text Shifa.
  • The philosophy and practice of music, law, and medicine from received and unearthed perspectives.
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• A crash course to help you read Chinese cursive, both modern and historical—and to write it yourself!
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• This online course has 6 aspects:
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• • Recognition - learn to read cursive—both modern and historical!
  • Writing - learn to write 150+ common characters in cursive!
  • Deciphering - learn the principles of how cursive forms are created, so you can decipher them yourself!
  • Self-teaching - you'll know exactly how to continue learning cursive on your own, to whatever level you want!
  • Culture/appreciation - learn about (and read!) some of the most famous calligraphers and their works
  • Simplified characters - many simplified characters were created from cursive forms. Understanding how this works makes it easier to see the logic of simplified characters!

You'll be surprised how much cursive you can understand with just this primer, and you'll also know what you need to do in order to continue your study of Chinese cursive if you want!