Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world, and the unique writing system provides insights on how Chinese conceptualize the world around them. China also boasts outstanding literature from classical to modern poetry, plays, and fiction. Studying Chinese language and literature will deepen your understanding of China, whether you are interested in imperial courts or contemporary business.

A Sampling of Courses

Elementary Chinese
Chinese

An intensive introduction to the fundamentals of the language and culture with emphasis on developing conversational skills such as pronunciation.

CHIN 103
Modern China through Fiction and Film
Asian Studies

How do film and literature inform our understanding of the evolving concepts of art, ideology, and material conditions in modern China? How have literary and cinematic representations changed over the last century to accommodate and facilitate social transformations? What are the characteristics of the cultural productions from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan?

ASIA 205
Gender and Sexuality in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
Asian Studies

This course examines Chinese literary and cultural practices related to gender and sexuality from the turn of the twentieth century to the present. Using primary texts in translation, theoretical works, films, and visual materials, students explore the personal and collective politics involved in constructions of gender, sexuality, desire, and identity.

ASIA 237
Advanced Chinese
Chinese

Emphasis on developing reading and writing skills in addition to conversational practice. Students read and discuss materials from Chinese newspapers, magazines, and modern literature. Students write short essays in simplified Chinese characters.

CHIN 301
Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
Asian Studies

This course surveys the four major modes of Chinese literature from the early 20th century to the present: realism, modernism, socialist realism, and postmodernism. Themes of modernity, nationalism, gender, class, and identity are explored through primary texts. The course emphasizes rhetorical, formal, and aesthetic critiques of literature.

ASIA 208

Contact

Yanbing Tan
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese

yatan@sewanee.edu

Gailor Hall 216, Ext 3367

Requirements for the Minor in Chinese

See all Faculty & Staff

News & Event

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, 2024

The Chinese Residential Learning Community hosted a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival where students enjoyed majiang, badminton, mask-painting, and a bonfire while enjoying mooncakes and Chinese food from Shan's.

Details

Asian Studies Summer Trip, 2024

Asian Studies students spent three weeks exploring the art and culture of Taiwan and Japan accompanied by Dr. Alison Miller, professor of Asian Art History and Marcus Murphy, professor of Chinese.

Details

Chinese Theatre Lecture

4:30 PM
Gailor 225

Dr. Yinghui Wu (UCLA) will speak about the Chinese drama 西厢记 The Story of the Western Wing, its visual and poetic commentaries.

 

"Far East Deep South" Screening & Talk Back with Director Baldwin Chiu

7:00 PM
Naylor Auditorium, Gailor

Chiu's movie elevates the contributions of early Chinese immigrants to the mid-South following the Civil War and sheds light on the complex racial history of the Mississippi Delta.

 

Sewanee Chinese Camp is Free to Qualified Applicants this Summer

For the first time ever, students qualified to participate in the Sewanee's Chinese language summer program can attend for free with a grant from STARTALK.  Read more to find out about this collaboration.

read more

Chinese Songs at International Karaoke Night

Students worked hard practicing their songs in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, and Spanish.  There was food from around the world and prizes for best solo, small group, and whole class acts.  Read more to find out who won and hear a bit of their songs.

 

read more

Lecture on Chinese Forensic Dramas

1:30 PM
Gailor 225

There will be a lecture on drama and legal investigations in early modern Chinese this coming Friday, featuring guest speaker, Dr. Wang Guojun, Associate Professor of Asian Studies at Vanderbilt. His talk is titled "Gender of Knowledge: Virtues and Crimes in the Forensic Drama of Early Modern China."

This talk will take place in the Language Lab (Gailor 225) from 1:30 to 2:30 PM on April 28th (Friday)

Talk by Dr. Jiwei Xiao

4:30 PM
Gailor Auditorium

Dr. Jiwei Xiao, who formerly taught Chinese at Sewanee, will deliver a talk entitled "What is a detail?: Reading Chinese Fiction as World Literature." In addition to the lecture, Dr. Xiao will be on the patio of McClurg at noon for a discussion over lunch.

Lunar New Year

Students ushered in the Year of the Tiger at a Lunar New Year Celebration at McClurg on Monday, January 30, 2022.

Stop Asian Hate

7:30 PM
Convocation Hall

Please join us Monday evening as faculty and students discuss the recent rise in hate crimes and bias incidents against Asians and Asian-Americans across the US. In addition to celebrating and standing in solidarity with our Asian and Asian-American community, panelists will touch on how to be allies and make our community a more welcoming place for all. 

Zoom Link

Lantern Festival Concert with Wu Fei

7:00 PM

Join us for an evening of music and conversation with Nashville-based artist, Wu Fei, who plays the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument.  All are encouraged to join in Zoom Room # 817 160 1654.

Sponsored by The Performing Arts Series, Asian Studies, Campus Activities, Asian House, and the Office of Global Citizenship.

Fall, 2024 Tutoring, Table, and Yoga Schedule

View the tutoring schedule. Find out when you can go to the Chinese Language Table, Yoga in Chinese, video gaming in Chinese and other resources for learning Chinese.

Details
View more News

Connecting the Dots

Language Houses
Themed Residence Halls

To create an immersive learning experience, Sewanee has several language houses (French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Italian) that simulate real-world language and cultural encounters. The head resident is a native speaker, and students speak their house language while “at home". Events throughout the year showcase educational and recreational aspects of the language house and the culture it represents.

Learn More
International & Global Studies, Major & Minor
45 professors, 14 departments

International & global studies at Sewanee stretches far beyond the gates. Involving faculty members from departments across the College, the program spans disciplinary and thematic boundaries. The rapid pace and complex nature of our world require dexterity to navigate. At Sewanee, you will study the ever-changing political, economic, and cultural issues that characterize our world today. Here, experiencing the real world begins in the classroom.

Learn More
Study Abroad
Engaged citizens solving global problems

At Sewanee, we pledge to offer each student an opportunity to study abroad. And at Sewanee, we keep our promises. Travel, learn, and cultivate your knowledge by communicating across cultures and acquiring a sensitivity to other ways of life. Apply social scientific methodologies to various frameworks. Learn to formulate solutions to global problems and apply those theories at home in a local context.

More about Study Abroad