This course guides students through the fundamentals of historical research, including historical theories, research methods, and the basic development and nature of Chinese historical sources. The course will equip students with the critical capacity to make historical reflections and conduct research on issues in history, especially on the history of China. It introduces basic themes in Chinese historical research, including the longstanding cultural tradition of historical writing, as well as modern debates surrounding historical study in China. The course also adopts a long-term perspective in analysing the development of Chinese historical records and their material forms: from oracle bone and bronze vessel inscriptions to texts written on bamboo and silk, then to manuscript and printed forms of books and archival records, and to the contemporary forms of historical data in the digital and Internet age. Students will also read, discuss, and reflect on how to use and interpret textual and archaeological sources in historical research.

Continuous Assessment: 100%