ESSAY #1 DUE Tues., October 3

3-5 pages. Follow a consistent footnote style. Base your analysis on the readings from the primary text sourcebooks. A bibliography is optional. Submit essays double spaced, single-sided, type-written, with one inch margins, and with a twelve point font. Suggested footnote format:

First citation: Mencius, from "Selections from the Mencius," in William Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, comp., Sources of Chinese Tradition, 2^nd ed. Vol. I, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1999), p. 119.

Later citations: "From the Daodejing," in de Bary, comp., Sources of Chinese Tradition, op. cit. p. 81.
[Note: Abbreviate the longer titles, and leave out publication information. Since the Daodejing does not have a known author, none is given.]

Write on one of the following topics, or a topic approved by me. Feel free to narrow the focus of your paper, rather than trying to cover the full range of the topic, if it seems appropriate. Discuss change from the Shang or Zhou to the Han, focussing on key figures and texts.

What is Confucianism? A religion, philosophy, political system, ideology, occupation? How have its proponents adapted their teachings to changing historical circumstances?

How has rulership changed over time? Discuss the role of the ruler in relation to officialdom, the populace, views of rulership, and/or sources of ruler legitimacy.

Trace changes in a social practice and its significance, or in a key concept and its relation to social/political practice.

Suggestions: Heaven, Mandate/Ordinances of Heaven, Filial Piety, Ritual, Virtue/Power/Moral Force (de), the Way (dao), Self Cultivation, Learning, Knowledge, Humaneness (ren), the qualities of the ideal person (Noble Man, Sage)