KSCA025 Classical Chinese I

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:40 J31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KSCA006 Chinese Language I || KSCX01 Modern Chinese I
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 17/20, only registered: 1/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Classical Chinese I is an intensive and challenging course, requiring students to be clearly motivated to learn Classical Chinese. The aim of the course is to master the grammar of Classical Chinese and to read a substantial number of texts - Classical Chinese Reading I-II - so that students can follow up with another course focused on the content of the selected texts, not just the language.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
master the grammar covered
master the vocabulary covered
independently read and translate simpler sections of ancient Chinese texts
translate more difficult sections of ancient Chinese texts in the seminar (with the help of the teacher)
Syllabus
The course follows the textbook: VÁVRA, Dušan. Čítanka klasické čínštiny. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2011. 221 s. Neuveden. ISBN 978-80-210-5457-8. Grammar and Reading book I-II.
Literature
    required literature
  • VÁVRA, Dušan. Čítanka klasické čínštiny (Classical Chinese reader). Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2011, 221 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-5457-8. info
    recommended literature
  • Nikitina, T. N. Gramatika staročínských textů. Praha: Karolinum, 2005.
  • Outline of classical Chinese grammar. Edited by Edwin G. Pulleyblank. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1995, xiv, 192 p. ISBN 0774805412. info
Teaching methods
Each lesson will include a short grammar explanation. A substantial part of the lesson is spent reading assigned sections of ancient Chinese texts from the textbook. Students prepare the assigned text in advance for reading and translation.
Assessment methods
1) attendance - 1 absence allowed per semester
2) readiness for class (students prepare the assigned text for reading and translation in advance). Failure to be prepared is graded as an absence.
3) Final written test. Translation, addition of appropriate words, transformation of constructions, etc. Knowledge of grammar, active knowledge of basic vocabulary, passive knowledge of other vocabulary contained in the textbook and texts read during the semester is required. A pass rate of 70% is required.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
General note: Předmět mohou zapsat pouze studenti se základní znalostí (1 semestr) moderní čínštiny.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
IMPORTANT: In the spring semester, we will not follow up with Classical Chinese II, as was previously customary, but with a new course, KSCB007 Seminar on Chinese Philosophy, which will be included as a cultural block course. Its content will be reading ancient Chinese philosophical texts in the original (and discussion, of course). I have wanted to open a seminar on Chinese philosophy for a long time, but based on the translations it doesn't make sense for philosophy. Now I have come to this solution, I believe it will work and become a regular part of the curriculum.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Spring 2023.
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