Issues:

• How have the Chinese conceived of divisions of time?
• How was the lunar calendar organized?
• What is the significance of major traditional and contemporary holidays?
• What role does ritual play in Chinese society?  How has that role changed in post-imperial society?

Activities:

• Presentation by Dr. Spendelow:  Chinese chronology and the well-ordered society
• Class discussion

Hand-outs:

• China's Chronology and Festivals
• Heavenly Stems / Earthly Branches
• sample calendar conversion chart

Readings:

1. Parish, W.L. and M.K. Whyte. Village and Family in Contemporary China, ch. 14, "The Annual Cycle of Festivals"
2. Stepanchuk, Carol and Charles Wang.  Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts:  Festivals of China (China Books,1991) [GT 4883 .A2 S73 1991]
3. Kuo Yuan Hsi and Louise Kuo.  Chinese Folk Tales (Millbrae, CA: Celestial Arts Press, 1976)
4. Link, Perry; Richard Madsen, and Paul G. Pickowicz, eds. Unofficial China:  Popular Culture and Thought in the People's Republic (Boulder: Westview Press, 1989)