Traditional Chinese Characters

Chinese 280

Teaching Materials:

1. Required Text: Yin Binyong Modern Chinese Characters trans. John S. Rohsenow (Beijing: Sinologua, 1994)
2. Recommended Text: Wang Hongyuan The Origins of Chinese Characters (Beijing: Sinolingua, 1993)
3. Student Text: Integrated Chinese, Textbook; Character Book, Volumes I and II.
4. Dictionary: Arranged according to pinyin or radical
5. Supplementary Materials for Reference: See Reserve Room, Wilson Library
   • Chinese Radicals. Volume I and Volume II
   • Mandarin Chinese 214 Radicals (pages 1-24)
6. Distributed Materials
   • Chart of 214 Chinese Radicals (of the Kang Xi Dictionary)
   • Pinyin Chart: Comparative systems
   • Handouts on various topics
7. Calligraphy Materials: Brush, ink and paper
8. Computer Programs: "Wenlin" Software for Learning Chinese. 3.0

Course Description 

• This two (2) credit course meets each Tuesday from 3:00-5:00 in Humanities 109; several sessions will be held in the Language Lab in Haggard Hall. Instruction is in English and Chinese.
• The primary objective is to enhance the student's recognition, understanding of and use of Chinese characters. We will explore the historical changes that resulted in an evolution of the Chinese characters. In addition, we will analyze the principles that guided the formation of the characters
• Understanding and skills to be gained are listed under proficiencies

Course Objectives & Proficiency

• Learn the meaning of the 214 Kangxi Dictionary radicals; compare these with other listings;
• Learn the various placements of components: the meaning component and the phonetic component;
• Recognize the traditional characters found in Integrated Chinese, Book I (Lessons 1-11);
• Understand the principles that guided the formation of Chinese characters as these ideas are expressed in traditional Chinese texts;
• Trace the evolution of Chinese characters including the processes of simplification;
• Compare and contrast three systems that represent the pronunciation of Chinese characters 1) Hanyu pinyin, 2) Wade-Giles romanization system, and 3) National Phonetic Script (bopomofo);
• Calligraphy: 1) Learn the theories and principles regarding writing Chinese; 2) Identify the different calligraphic styles; 3) Practice writing with the brush to develop your neat, but distinctive style;
• Read texts composed with traditional forms;
• Write brief texts using the traditional forms; contrast these with the simplified forms;
• Learn to use computer software as a tool of instruction

Evaluation & Grading

Evaluation will be based on the following

• 40% Weekly quizzes
• 35% Assignments and class participation
• 15% Calligraphy; understanding and practice
• 10% Final examination

Grading: Grades will be assigned as follows:

• A: 100-95; A-: 95-91; B+: 90-88; B: 87-85; B-: 83-81; C+: 80-78; C: 77-75; C-: 74-71;
  D+: 70-68; D: 67-65; D-: 64-61; F: 60-0

We hope you will enjoy the class!