Exploring the Three Kingdoms:

The Classic Chinese Novel and

Sanguosha the Card Game

 

Course Description:

 

The Three Kingdoms period, which spanned from AD 184 to 280, was a time filled with war and turmoil due to competing powers which vied for control over China. Wei, Wu, and Shu make up the dominant rival powers in this period, thus giving the Three Kingdoms era its namesake. The Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history pervades throughout Chinese culture. The Chinese often refers to this period in their everyday speech (the common Chinese saying  說曹操，曹操到, translated as “speak of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives” provides a good example). Popular media that are inspired by or portray this period of Chinese history are commonly found throughout China today. Some of this media, such as the movie Red Cliff, even manage to reach an international audience.  The Three Kingdoms period therefore proves itself a critical aspect of Chinese culture that deserves to be explored.

 

This Decal aims to examine the integration of the history of the Three Kingdoms period into Chinese popular culture through mediums such as books, shows, and games. The course will focus on one of the fictional novels based upon this period, a novel considered to be one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. The course will provide students with a solid general understanding of the time period and the novel through lectures, readings, written responses, and discussion, as well as activities.  Topics that the course will cover include noteworthy events such as the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Red Cliffs, and Battle of Xiaoting.

 

In addition to the book, the Decal will also introduce other popular renditions of the Three Kingdoms period such as the widely popular Sanguosha 三國殺card game and 三國 television series to increase appreciation of the period. Sanguosha allows a hands-on approach to explore the influences of the Three Kingdoms period on popular games in China. This game is basically a Chinese edition of the card game Bang!, where players attempt to overthrow the ruler with their respective characters. Students will use knowledge from the book and historical events to examine significant figures’, such as Liu Bei, character card abilities in relation to their role in history. 

 

For more information on Sanguosha, check out http://sanguoshaenglish.blogspot.com/.

 

Key Objectives:

·         Gain general knowledge about the Three Kingdoms period

·         Gain a better understanding of the melding of history and popular culture

·         Increase appreciation of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history

·         Immerse in Chinese culture by reading one of the four great Chinese novels

 

Class Format:

 

Short Lecture

-          Classes will begin with a short lecture consisting of recap of the chapters students read for the week, a comparison between the events of the novel versus real history, as well as how the events had been presented in media.

Reading Discussion

-          The class will discuss the week’s readings in small groups. Students will be given discussion questions designed to stimulate thought on the topic. The discussion questions would be given at least several days before class so students would have had time to prepare for the discussion. Discussion topics will include analysis of the events of the novel and the characters of novels, as well as how the events were presented by media.

Sanguosha 三國殺session

-          Students will be arranged into groups to play a game of the card game Sanguosha 三國殺.

 

Grading Policy:

 

60% attendance/participation

15% discussion responses

25% final paper

 

Students will need at least 70% total grade to pass the class. Attendance is very important in this Decal. Therefore, each unexcused absence will mean a 5% loss of the total grade. Each discussion response is worth 1.25% of the total grade. The final paper is worth 25% percent of the total grade. The final paper is mandatory. Failing to complete the paper will result in a failing grade (Although the math may suggest that one can still pass the class without doing the final paper, you WILL fail if you do not turn in a final paper).

 

Work required:

 

Readings

-          Students will need a buy, rent, or borrow a copy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms for the weekly reading assignments will be from this novel. The weekly reading assignment will be approximately 60 pages per week. Students are expected to have finished the readings assigned for each week before class that week (ie. Students are expected to have read Week 2 readings before class on week 2).

 

Responses to Discussion Questions

-          Each week, student will be given discussion questions regarding the readings assigned for that week. Students are required to give a response to one or more of these discussion questions. The responses should be about 1-2 paragraphs. The responses will not need to be particularly elaborate for they are mainly designed to stimulate thought about the novel.

 

Final Paper

-          Students will be required to write a 2-3 page paper on one of the following topics:

o   Write an essay exploring the ways the card game Sanguoxia is related to Romance of the Three Kingdoms (eg. In what way are the character card’s abilities reflective of the character’s actions, behaviors, or traits in the novel)

o   Explore and/or analyze how the Three Kingdoms Era or Romance of the Three Kingdoms is presented by modern media.

o   Write a comparison between the game Sanguosha and other media not covered in class that uses the Three Kingdom period as a basis. Compare the similarities and differences in the portrayal of important historical figures.

o   Choose a chapter from Romance of the Three Kingdoms that was NOT covered in class. Write a summary noting the significance of the chapter relative to the overall story and important historical figures.

o   Topic of your choice (Please tell a facilitator about your topic at least 2 weeks in advance if you select this option)

 

Attendance:

 

Attendance to this DeCal is mandatory. Students who have more than 3 unexcused absences will fail the class. In the event that you must skip class and have a good reason (eg. evening examinations, review sessions, illness), please email a facilitator at least one day in advance to be excused.

 

Schedule:

 

Week 1:

Topics:

-          Introductions

-          Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel

-          Basic background history of the Three Kingdoms Era

-          Three Kingdoms in Chinese Culture (movies, games, everyday speech)

-          Sanguoxia

Readings: None

 

Week 2:

Topics:

-          Oath of the Peach Garden

-          Heroes and Champions win first honors fighting the yellow scarves

-          The Installation of the Chenliu Prince; Emperor Shao is deposed

-          A Plot against the traitor Dong; Cao Cao presents a jeweled knife

-          Cao Cao Rallies the Lords with a Forged Decree

-          Three Brothers engage Lu Bu in Battle

 

Readings: Chapters 1, 4, 5

 

Week 3:

Topics:

-          Wang Yun sets Double Snare

-          Dong Zhuo starts brawl at Phoenix Pavilion

-          Lu Bu kills the tyrant for Wang Yun

-          Li Jue invades the capital on Jia Xu’s advice

-          Cao Cao moves the Emperor to Xuchang

-          Lu Bu attacks Xuzhou by night

 

Readings: Chapters 8, 9, 14

 

Week 4:

Topics:

-          Taishi Ci and Sun Ce fight their hearts out

-          Sun Ce plants his Kingdom South of the River

-          Cao Cao Battles Fiercely at Xiapi

-          Lu Bu Falls at White Fate Tower

-          The Traitor Cao murders Consort Dong

-          The Imperial Uncle Liu Flees to Yuan Shao

 

Readings: Chapters 15, 19, 24

 

Week 5:

Topics:

-          Trapped on a Hill, Lord Guan Sets Three conditions

-          At Baima, Cao Cao breaks the heavy siege

-          Yuan Shao Loses a Battle and Another General

-          Lord Guan Returns His Official Seal

-          The Man of the Magnificient Beard Rides Alone a Thousand Li

-          The Lord of Hanshou slays Six Generals and Breaches five passes

 

Readings: Chapters 25, 26, 27

 

Week 6:

Topics:

-          Guan Yu slays Cai Yang, Dispelling His Brother’s Doubt

-          Leige and Leige Men unite at Gucheng

-          The Overlord of the Southland Executes a sorcerer

-          The Rule of the South Passes to Green eyed Sun Quan

-          Yuan Shao Suffers defeat at Guandu

-          Cao Cao Burns the Stores at Wuchao

 

Readings: Chapters 28, 29, 30

 

Week 7:

Topics:

-          Still Water Recommends Another Noted Scholar

-          Liu Xuande pays Three Visits to Zhuge Liang

-          Kongming Determines the Realm’s Division and Charts a Course

-          Sun Quan Leads a naval and exacts revenge

-          Liu Xuande Leads His Flock over the River

-          Zhao Zilong Rescues Master Liu Single handedly

 

Readings: Chapters 37, 38, 41

 

Week 8:

Topics:

-          Kongming Cunningly Moves Zhou Yu to Anger

-          Sun Quan Decides on a plan to Defeat Cao Cao

-          Kongming Borrows Cao Cao’s Arrows Through a Ruse

-          Huang Gai is Flogged Following a Secret Plan

-          Kan Ze’s secret Letter Offering a Sham Surrender

-          Pang Tong’s Shrewd Plan for Connecting the Boats

 

Readings: Chapters 44, 46, 47

 

Week 9:

Topics:

-          Feasting on the Great River, Cao Cao Sings an Ode

-          Linking Its Boats, the North Prepares for War

-          On Seven Star Altar Kongming Supplicates the Wind

-          At Three Rivers Zhou Yu Unleashes the Fire

-          Kongming Foresees the Outcome at Huarong

-          Lord Guan releases and Obligates, Cao Cao

 

Readings: Chapters 48, 49, 50

 

Week 10:

Topics:

-          Cao Ren Battles the Southland Troops

-          Kongming Spoils Zhou Yu’s Victory

-          State Mother Wu Meets Bridegroom in a Temple

-          Imperial Uncle Liu Takes His Bride toe the Wedding Chamber

-          Cao Cao Feasts at Bronze Bird Tower

-          Kongming Riles Zhou Yu for the Third Time

 

Readings: Chapters 51, 54, 56

 

Week 11:

Topics:

-          A Lone Swordsman, Guan Presents Himself at Lu Su’s Feast

-          Empress Wu Lays Down Her Life for Her House

-          Zhuge Liang’s Cunning Captures Hanzhong

-          Lord Guan Storms Xiangyang District

-          Xuande becomes King of Hanzhong

-          Lord Guan Storms Xiangyang District

 

Readings: Chapters 66, 72, 73

 

Week 12:

Topics:

-          Hua Tuo Scrapes the Poison from Lord Guan’s Bone

-          Lu Meng Sends Mariners Across the River in Disguise

-          At Mount Yuquan Lord Guan Manifests a Divine Presence

-          In Luoyang City Cao Cao Feels the Force of His Soul

-          Lu Xun Burns a Seven Hundred Li Line of Camps

-          Kongming Deploys the Eightfold Ramparts Maze

 

Readings: Chapters 75, 77, 84

 

Week 13:

Topics:

-          Giant Beasts Are Deployed in Kongming’s Sixth Victory

-          Rattan Shields are Burned in Meng Huo’s Seventh Capture

-          Wei’s Rule is Transferred to the House of Sima

-          Jiang Wei Loses a Battle at Ox Head Mountain

-          With the Recommendation of Du Yu, an Old General Offers a New Plan

-          With Sun Hao’s Surrender, the Realm is United

 

Readings: Chapters 90, 107, 120

 

Week 14

-          Turn in Final Paper

-          Closing Thoughts

-          Food and Drinks!

 

Readings: NONE!