Departments (Chairs) at the Faculty of East Asian Studies
The Department offers a wide range of courses
on the languages, literatures and cultures of China. A focus of
research is modern Chinese and Taiwanese literature. The Department has
an extensive research library on the subject of Taiwan, with reference
works in both Chinese and Western languages on Taiwanese literature,
literary history, and literary criticism.
Founded in 1968, the Chinese History
Department at Ruhr University Bochum focused on historiography,
institutional history, technography and regional history under its two
first directors, Prof. Dr. Tilemann Grimm (1965–1974) and Prof. Dr.
Bodo Wiethoff (1975–1996). When Prof. Dr. Heiner Roetz was appointed to
the chair in 1998, the denomination of the Department was expanded to
include Chinese Philosophy. Until 2002, the Department offered a
four-year "Magister" programme in Chinese History and Philosophy. The
traditional courses were adapted when new B.A./M.A. programme was
introduced in 2002. Since then, the Department offers a Bachelor
programme in "Sinology" together with the Department of Chinese
Languages and Literatures, and a follow-on Master programme in "Chinese
Philosophy and History".
Generally speaking classes in Japanese
History teach key skills for dealing with diverse fields of Japanese
culture. In order not to fall prey to the widely spread myths about
Japan, far-reaching knowledge about the historical roots of Japan's
culture and society of today are necessary. Acquiring this kind of
knowledge about a country that is steadily becoming more and more
important internationally, coupled with solid language skills means to
qualify students not only for academic activity in historical sciences,
but also for a career in politics, the media, culture, and business in
general.
The Department of Japanese Language and
Literature deals with the study of the Japanese language and literature
from philological and linguistic perspectives in the general framework
of the East Asian Studies.
Prof. Dr. Bruno Lewin had been the chair of the department since the establishment of the Ruhr University until 1989. With the appointment of Prof. Dr. Jens Rickmeyer in October 1991, the department acquired an even stronger linguistic orientation. Upon Prof. Dr. Jens Rickmeyer's retirement in August 2008, Prof. Dr. Alexander Vovin as an interim chair from September 2008 brings in his expertise in Japanese linguistics and philology.
The Institute offers B.A. and M.A. courses in
Korean Studies. In addition, a Dr. Phil. degree may be obtained. The
study program is rather broadly oriented, encompassing subject matters
related to history, literature, religion, politics. A notable emphasis
is placed on modern Korea and the multifacetted cultural and political
ties of the country in the region. On the basis of contemporary and
pre-modern sources, students learn to understand Korean culture in
historical perspectives.
The Department of East Asian Politics is committed to an
approach in both teaching and research, which is practice-oriented and
contemporary. We help develop knowledge and understanding of East Asia
in Germany and Europe through well-founded research, innovative
teaching concepts, and prudent policy consultation. Conceptual
thinking, analytical competence, and skills of problem recognition and
problem solving are the hallmarks of our scientific work.