NCTA Tenjin Archives History Courses

Last Offered: Spring 2024

Bushidō, warrior cult, ninjas, martial arts – these are all phenomena associated with Japan’s medieval past, although they were, in fact, never really present in the period often referred to as such. During this course, we will take a critical look at some of these tropes about the ‘medieval past’ and how they were developed and used in the late nineteenth-century construction of Japanese nationalism and in the rise of fascism in the early twentieth century.

This course offers teachers 3 professional development hours. For any questions, reach out to easc@iu.edu

Last offered: Fall 2024

Most people associate the Japanese samurai with fiercely loyal killing machines who in lieu of suitable targets would not hesitate to kill themselves in gruesome ways. During this short course, we will critically examine these myths and show a much more varied image of the medieval (pre-1600) samurai. We will go through the social dynamics that led to the political rise of the warriors in Japan as well as discuss the realities behind the myths of the samurai that are so often reproduced in film and games even today. The purpose of the course is to provide the tools to teach about this historical phenomenon in a more nuanced and balanced way that will promote critical thinking and appreciation of diverse viewpoints.

Last offered: Fall 2024

This asynchronous NCTA short course will cover Japan's unique culture of fermentation. Participants will explore the agents used, how methods vary based on the size of producers, and the different types of ferments found in Japan. This course will also explore how Japan fits into the larger East Asian region consisting of China, Korea, and Taiwan. Focus will be on how Japan has influenced the surrounding area especially during its pre- and inter-WWII imperialist expansion in the region. Participants will be introduced to the similarities between ferments from different countries and how regional ingredients are adapted to make unique combinations.

Last offered: Spring 2025

This asynchronous NCTA short course will cover a brief history of traditional Japanese confectionary and how the development of Japanese sweets changed after importation of sugar into the port of Dejima in Nagasaki. Participants will explore the period up until the start of importation (traditional ingredients and creation methods) followed by a discussion of the Nagasaki sugar road and the development of the Japanese-Western confectionaries that are popular today.

Last offered: Spring 2025

Taught by Dr. Kelly Olds of National Taiwan University, this NCTA short course will equip teachers with the knowledge and resources needed to understand Taiwan’s economic history and success from the 1960s to the present day.

Last offered: Summer 2025

In this short course, we will discuss how peasants and other people ‘at the margins’ of medieval Japanese society (ca. 1000-1400) lived and organized. Large parts of society are silent in sources from that time, and we will investigate different ways that historians can bring back their voices and reconstruct their daily lives, communities, and belief systems, as well as re-assess the agency of those people who have traditionally been described merely as passive producers.