EdX

Chinese History From Warring States to the Tang Dynasty | 资治通鉴 (edX)

Chinese History From Warring States to the Tang Dynasty | 资治通鉴 (edX)

Guides you through the Chinese masterpiece _Zizhi Tongjian, _an unprecedented work of governance and philosophical thinking spanning from the Warring States Period to the Tang Dynasty. Through the teacher's guided reading, students can go deep into the interior of this classic text, gain an overview of thousands of years of history, and improve their literacy in Chinese studies.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Zizhi Tongjian _is one of the earliest Chinese historiographies spanning nearly 300 volumes and covering 1,300 years of history. Literally meaning “Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance,” _Zizhi Tongjian is an annalistic-style history featuring the subjects of politics and the military as the main thread of narration. The collection has been cherished by scholars over numerous dynasties for its historical value and insight into governance, peace and stability.

This guided reading course will help learners deepen their understanding of Chinese history, in addition to applying _Zizhi Tongjian’s _ancient wisdom to modern-day governance. Because _Zizhi TongJian _is a rich, expansive text, this course is intended to remove colloquial barriers and help students gain a deeper understanding of Chinese history from Emperor Qin to Caocao and Emperor Taizong.
"Zizhi Tongjian" is a famous chronicle style history book compiled by Sima Guang of the Northern Song Dynasty and the first work of the "Tongjian style" category of traditional history books. The book takes politics and military as the main narrative line, starting from 403 BC and ending in 959 AD. With 294 volumes and more than 3 million words, it systematically presents the magnificent historical picture of China over more than 1,300 years. Since the publication of this book, it has not only been valued by scholars of all ages for its irreplaceable value as historical data, but has also been praised by later generations for its fundamental motivation and excellent historical knowledge for educating people, summarizing the rise and fall of chaos in the past, and presenting a story that transcends time and space. of great vitality. However, "Zizhi Tongjian" is vast in length and complex in content, and due to the characteristics of the historical documents themselves, it is difficult for young students who are not majoring in literature and history to read through and understand its gist. As a general humanities course, the "Introduction to "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"" course aims to eliminate professional barriers and guide students to experience the charm of this great Chinese historical work up close. The lecturer of the course, Professor Zhang Guogang, has devoted himself to studying "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" for decades. By carefully selecting the words and deeds of classic characters and historical scenes, he analyzed the details and analyzed them piece by piece, using modern thinking to summarize the cultural essence and elucidating historical wisdom in vivid language, with special emphasis on Among them are the practical significance of self-cultivation, family management, and country governance, as well as the historical comparison between Chinese and Western cultures. Through the course "Introduction to "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"", students can not only have a more comprehensive grasp of the basic context of the development and evolution of Chinese history from the Warring States Period to the Five Dynasties, but also understand the basic principles of how to draw realistic nutrition from traditional culture. method to pave the way for further learning about Chinese culture in the future.

What you'll learn
Chinese masterpiece _Zizhi Tongjian, _an unprecedented work of governance and philosophical thinking spanning from the Warring States Period to the Tang Dynasty.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Modern China’s Foundations: The Manchus and the Qing (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Modern China’s Foundations: The Manchus and the Qing (edX)

Learn how the Manchus conquered the Qing and established the last of the imperial dynasties. This course, part of a comprehensive series on China, looks at the Qing state in the early 1600s and the challenges that the Manchus faced as minority rulers. While living in Chinese cities and surrounded by Chinese culture — a culture that was far more sophisticated than their own — the Manchus struggled to hold onto their identity as a conquesting people.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1 (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1 (Coursera)

This course seeks to turn learners into informed consumers of social science research. It introduces concepts, standards, and principles of social science research to the interested non-expert. Learners who complete the course will be able to assess evidence and critically evaluate claims about important social phenomena. It reviews the origins and development of social science, describes the process of discovery in contemporary social science research, and explains how contemporary social science differs from apparently related fields. It describes the goals, basic paradigms, and methodologies of the major social science disciplines.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
History of Chinese Architecture | 中国建筑史 (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

History of Chinese Architecture | 中国建筑史 (edX)

This course explores China's rich and varied architectural history. (In Mandarin with English subtitles.) 体味中国古建筑之美,理解中国建筑的重要内涵 China's architectural history spans thousands of years. In this course, we will explore the ancient cities of Chang'an of Han, Luoyang of Northern Wei, Chang'an and Luoyang of Sui and Tang, Kaifeng of Song and Dadu of Yuan, and delve into the history of the awe-inspiring ancient buildings that still grace the landscape of these bustling cities.

No sessions available
13-24 Weeks
Will China Rise as a Disruptive Force? The Insiders' Perspective (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

Will China Rise as a Disruptive Force? The Insiders' Perspective (edX)

An insiders’ perspective on the economic, social and political impact of China’s rise on the world stage. China, one of the world’s oldest countries, is currently undergoing massive political, social and economic changes. The rapid emergence of China as a key player in the global political and economic landscape has led many to question how China’s decision makers perceive today’s world.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Western and Chinese Art: Masters and Classics (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

Western and Chinese Art: Masters and Classics (edX)

From da Vinci to Zhang Xu, Wu Daozi and Warhol, explore immortal works of Western and Chinese art and gain an appreciation of culture, history and civilization. Throughout human history, art has served as a window into current events, traditions, societies and culture. And, Chinese and Western civilizations have produced some of the most famous artworks by world-renowned artists.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
English for Doing Business in Asia - Speaking (edX) EdX
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST,HKUSTx

English for Doing Business in Asia - Speaking (edX)

Introducing strategies for developing your spoken English communication skills in the context of doing business in Asia. The use of English for doing business in multinational settings is a fact of life for many business people. As Asian economies expand and become more involved in the global economy, a lingua franca – a language used to communicate among groups of people who do not share a mother tongue – is needed to exchange information.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
文物精品与文化中国:文字与乐礼 | Relics of Chinese History - Part 3: Writing System, Rites and Music (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

文物精品与文化中国:文字与乐礼 | Relics of Chinese History - Part 3: Writing System, Rites and Music (edX)

Discover how writing systems and music played a major role in Chinese history through the study of artifacts and relics. 本课程以精品文物作引子,将学术界探索中华文明的过程作为线索,介绍古代中国在造船、玉器等诸多领域的杰出成就

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Oriental Beliefs: Between Reason and Traditions (edX) EdX
LouvainX,Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL

Oriental Beliefs: Between Reason and Traditions (edX)

Explore the spiritual and magical beliefs of cultures, from ancient Egypt to modern Japan, as we discuss gods, the universe, cosmos, dreams and so much more! This course takes a journey through the world of beliefs as they have developed in a great variety of cultures, ranging from Ancient Egypt, the Near East to Central Asia, India, China, and the Far East.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks