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CHIN 230: The Classic Novels
Offered FA18

April 15, 2018

The Water Margin by SHI Nai'an

Dream of Red Chamber by CAO Xuegin

Romance of Three Kingdoms by LUO Guanzhong

Journey to the West by WU Chengien

CHIN 230: Chinese Literature in Translation: The Classic Novels

The four great Classic Novels of China: Water Margin, Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Dream of the Red Chamber have been widely read by the literati and ruling classes in China for centuries. The stories have so permeated the culture that even illiterate Chinese are intimately knowledgeable with the plot and the main characters of these novels because they have been the source of much popular entertainment, including modern popular culture. They are rich in philosophical ideas, history, and notions about human society, family life, and politics, and have contributed to the formation of the world view of generations of readers.

Water Margin and The Romance of the Three Kingdoms are semi-historical novels, like War and Peace but with more kung-fu. Like Pride and Prejudice, The Dream of the Red Chamber is a must-read for anyone interested in complex social structures, family roles, and the challenges of romance. Journey to the West is a colorful array of adventure and strategy, perhaps a mix of Don Quixote and Dante’s trilogy. Like their counterparts in the western canon, these four novels are touchstones to which Chinese literary culture persistently returns to discover new relevance and fresh insight. The course is offered in English with a focus on the introduction and reading of these classics.

No prerequisites. Taught in English.

Fall-18, MW 3-4:30 pm

Taught by Prof. Liu, liu@lclark.edu

Our students won the first place and the third place in the annual Japanese speech contest!

On Saturday, April 19, the 29th Annual Toyama Cup speech contest was held.

The event is sponsored and hosted by Japan’s Toyama prefecture, Oregon’s sister state, and the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO). The event consists of a lower and higher level, with the champion of the higher level winning a trip and week-long stay in Toyama, Japan. All winners and runners-up received a variety of gifts from Toyama.

This year, students from Lewis & Clark, Oregon State University, Pacific University, Portland Community College, University of Oregon, and Mt.Hood Community College had a heated competition, where everyone demonstrated impressively high Japanese skills.

After extremely close-fought competitions, Charlotte Jaguzuy (Asian Studies major, Japanese minor ’25) came in first in the upper division, and Nico Quade (English Major ’27) came in third place in the lower division.

Charlotte will go visit the Toyama prefecture this summer as a cultural envoy!

Everyone in the Japanese section is so proud of them!

Teacher of the Year Winner!

It is with great pleasure to announce and congratulate our 2025 Teacher of the Year: Satomi Newsom, Instructor of Japanese. Satomi has inspired students through her dedication, passion, and excellence in teaching. Her commitment to student success and her dynamic contributions to the academic life of our college have truly set her apart.

“Tren de Aragua: A Gang, Not Terrorist Invaders” by Elliott Young

LC Professor of History Elliott Young has an informative article published by The North American Congress on Latin America entitled, “Tren de Aragua: A Gang, Not Terrorist Invaders,” which examines immigrant rights and how the current administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to target Venezuelan migrants relies on a false narrative about gangs and the Venezuelan state.

The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to examine and critique U.S. imperialism and political, economic, and military intervention in the Western hemisphere. In an evolving political and media landscape, we continue to work toward a world in which the nations and peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean are free from oppression, injustice, and economic and political subordination.

Elliott Young is professor of history at Lewis & Clark College and the author of “Forever Prisoners: How the United States Made the World’s Largest Immigrant Detention System.”

Fullbright Information session

Interested in teaching, study, or research abroad after graduation? Come to the Fulbright information session this Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm in the Interactive Learning Center (Miller 211)!

The Fulbright program awards grants in over 160 countries.

Come and learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student program, the opportunities it offers around the world, and the application process.