Course Description
Summary
If Confucianism is the Yang of Chinese culture, then Daoism is the Yin. Not only has Daoism had a profound influence on traditional Chinese art and thought, but this philosophy remains relevant to modern life in both the East and West. Students will be introduced to the main precepts of philosophical Daoism through modern Chinese interpretations of Taoist Tales. Students will explore Daoist concepts while building on their competencies in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Mandarin Chinese.
Each class, or every other class, students will be given a different tale translated into modern Chinese along with a vocabulary list for that reading. Students will be expected to read the tale and prepare to discuss it in Chinese with the teacher and classmates during the next class meeting.
All students will meet in small groups once a week with the teacher outside of the regular classes. A course pack of various Daoism tales materials will be provided.
