Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Knowledge of Chinese not required. Examination of formation and development of Chinese narrative traditions from Tang to mid-Qing periods (7th-18th centuries). Readings from biographical writings, fiction, drama, legal cases, etc., with emphasis on different narrative conventions and their cultural assumptions and intersections. Exploration of important issues in context of imperial China, including order and chaos, self and other, desire and transcendence, gender norms and transgression, violence and justice. May be taken independently for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C250B. Letter grading.