Warfare and organized state violence has been a critical part of modern China’s construction over... more Warfare and organized state violence has been a critical part of modern China’s construction over the past 150 years. What is the consequence of such violence for our understanding of PRC strategic behavior in the present day? How can these wars be placed in a larger regional context? Over the course of this time period, and across multiple governmental regimes, can a culturally ‘Chinese’ form of war be identified?
Conflicts will be analyzed in chronological fashion, beginning with the Taiping Civil War of the mid-19th century, the first Sino-Japanese War, the various battles of the early republican “Warlord Period” in the second and third decades of the twentieth century, China’s participation in World War II, the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists, the Cold War, and China’s military involvement in East and Southeast Asia.
This course covers selected major English-language secondary scholarship on the topic of war in China or conducted by China, at a pace of roughly one monograph per week. No knowledge of Chinese language is required, but some background in Chinese history would be extremely helpful. Students will be expected to lead discussion at least once in the semester. Students will also be required to write weekly short response papers and a longer paper at the end of the semester.
Course Description: APS 601 examines the modern transformation of East Asia focusing primarily on... more Course Description: APS 601 examines the modern transformation of East Asia focusing primarily on China, Japan, and Korea. As one of two gateway seminars for the MAPS program, it emphasizes historical methods for understanding contemporary East Asia within the context of modernity. The scope of this seminar will also address topics in economic development, global politics, cultural studies and other fields. The course will draw on journal articles, book chapters, and other materials posted on Canvas and brought in by students. Weekly classes will be a mix of lectures, discussions, and presentations.
Author(s): Tang, Jonathan | Advisor(s): Yeh, Wen-hsin | Abstract: This dissertation examines a 19... more Author(s): Tang, Jonathan | Advisor(s): Yeh, Wen-hsin | Abstract: This dissertation examines a 1920 mutiny in Pingjiang County, Hunan Province, as a way of challenging the dominant narrative of the early republican period of Chinese history, often called the “Warlord Era.” The mutiny precipitated a change of power from Tan Yankai, a classically trained elite of the pre-imperial era, to Zhao Hengti, who had undergone military training in Japan. Conventional histories interpret this transition as Zhao having betrayed his erstwhile superior Tan, epitomizing the rise of warlordism and the disintegration of traditional civilian administration; this dissertation challenges these claims by showing that Tan and Zhao were not enemies in 1920, and that no such betrayal occurred.These same histories also claim that local governance during this period was fundamentally broken, necessitating the revolutionary party-state of the KMT and CCP to centralize power and restore order. Though this was u...
Warfare and organized state violence has been a critical part of modern China’s construction over... more Warfare and organized state violence has been a critical part of modern China’s construction over the past 150 years. What is the consequence of such violence for our understanding of PRC strategic behavior in the present day? How can these wars be placed in a larger regional context? Over the course of this time period, and across multiple governmental regimes, can a culturally ‘Chinese’ form of war be identified?
Conflicts will be analyzed in chronological fashion, beginning with the Taiping Civil War of the mid-19th century, the first Sino-Japanese War, the various battles of the early republican “Warlord Period” in the second and third decades of the twentieth century, China’s participation in World War II, the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists, the Cold War, and China’s military involvement in East and Southeast Asia.
This course covers selected major English-language secondary scholarship on the topic of war in China or conducted by China, at a pace of roughly one monograph per week. No knowledge of Chinese language is required, but some background in Chinese history would be extremely helpful. Students will be expected to lead discussion at least once in the semester. Students will also be required to write weekly short response papers and a longer paper at the end of the semester.
Course Description: APS 601 examines the modern transformation of East Asia focusing primarily on... more Course Description: APS 601 examines the modern transformation of East Asia focusing primarily on China, Japan, and Korea. As one of two gateway seminars for the MAPS program, it emphasizes historical methods for understanding contemporary East Asia within the context of modernity. The scope of this seminar will also address topics in economic development, global politics, cultural studies and other fields. The course will draw on journal articles, book chapters, and other materials posted on Canvas and brought in by students. Weekly classes will be a mix of lectures, discussions, and presentations.
Author(s): Tang, Jonathan | Advisor(s): Yeh, Wen-hsin | Abstract: This dissertation examines a 19... more Author(s): Tang, Jonathan | Advisor(s): Yeh, Wen-hsin | Abstract: This dissertation examines a 1920 mutiny in Pingjiang County, Hunan Province, as a way of challenging the dominant narrative of the early republican period of Chinese history, often called the “Warlord Era.” The mutiny precipitated a change of power from Tan Yankai, a classically trained elite of the pre-imperial era, to Zhao Hengti, who had undergone military training in Japan. Conventional histories interpret this transition as Zhao having betrayed his erstwhile superior Tan, epitomizing the rise of warlordism and the disintegration of traditional civilian administration; this dissertation challenges these claims by showing that Tan and Zhao were not enemies in 1920, and that no such betrayal occurred.These same histories also claim that local governance during this period was fundamentally broken, necessitating the revolutionary party-state of the KMT and CCP to centralize power and restore order. Though this was u...
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Syllabi by Jonathan Tang
Conflicts will be analyzed in chronological fashion, beginning with the Taiping Civil War of the mid-19th century, the first Sino-Japanese War, the various battles of the early republican “Warlord Period” in the second and third decades of the twentieth century, China’s participation in World War II, the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists, the Cold War, and China’s military involvement in East and Southeast Asia.
This course covers selected major English-language secondary scholarship on the topic of war in China or conducted by China, at a pace of roughly one monograph per week. No knowledge of Chinese language is required, but some background in Chinese history would be extremely helpful. Students will be expected to lead discussion at least once in the semester. Students will also be required to write weekly short response papers and a longer paper at the end of the semester.
Papers by Jonathan Tang
Conflicts will be analyzed in chronological fashion, beginning with the Taiping Civil War of the mid-19th century, the first Sino-Japanese War, the various battles of the early republican “Warlord Period” in the second and third decades of the twentieth century, China’s participation in World War II, the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists, the Cold War, and China’s military involvement in East and Southeast Asia.
This course covers selected major English-language secondary scholarship on the topic of war in China or conducted by China, at a pace of roughly one monograph per week. No knowledge of Chinese language is required, but some background in Chinese history would be extremely helpful. Students will be expected to lead discussion at least once in the semester. Students will also be required to write weekly short response papers and a longer paper at the end of the semester.