Cultural Identities and Medical Pluralism in Yunnan Province

  China

• Kunming: 
Kunming

Term: Summer 
Dates: mid-July to late August

Description: This program explores current approaches in cultural anthropology to understanding both ethnic cultural diversity and medical pluralism (which in China focuses on the relationship between diverse Chinese and "Western" medical practices) in southwest China's Yunnan Province. It is designed for undergraduate and graduate students interested in everyday life in modern China, cultural anthropology, national identity and diverse medical knowledges. The program is based in Kunming, the vibrant metropolitan capital of Yunnan, and also includes one week of travel in the spectacularly beautiful ethnic minority areas located in the Himalayan uplift region of northwestern Yunnan. Coursework focuses on issues of "minority nationality" identity in Yunnan, which is the most ethnically diverse province in China, and on issues of medical pluralism in China in general and Yunnan in particular.

Yunnan is the southwestern-most province of China and borders Tibet, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. It is culturally and ecologically diverse, with the three major rivers of southeast Asia (the Salween, the Red River and the Mekong), as well as a major tributary of the Yangtze River (the Jinsha), flowing from the Tibetan plateau in the northwest of Yunnan through deep gorges to the south and southwest parts of the province. Fifty percent of China's herbal medicines are harvested and produced from Yunnan's richly diverse ecosystems, constituted by mountains (many over 20,000 feet), river gorges and basins. 26 of the 56 official "minority nationalities" of China reside in Yunnan¬, many of them in the more remote mountainous, river gorge and basin areas of the province, and ethnic minorities constitute one third of Yunnan's 43 million population.

Highlights: In the final week, the group travels northwest from Kunming to the locales of several of the ethnic minority groups introduced in the courses. Such locales may include Dali (home of the Bai people) and Lijiang (home of the Naxi people), both of which are characterized by spectacular mountain and basin scenery.

While in Kunming, students are placed in carefully selected homestays with local families. The homestay provides an invaluable immersion opportunity for students to get a sense of the everyday "structures of feeling" of middle-class life in urban China.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: $3,820 - $6,322, depending on level and residency

Costs include tuition (6 cr), housing, some meals, program-related travel, and admission expenses during field trips. These costs are based on 2009 tuition. All costs are estimates and are subject to change.

Experience Required: yes

Although not essential, a background in anthropology or Asian studies is desirable.

Participants Travel to China Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Transcript
• Written Application

Temple University's Mission Statement: The Temple University International Programs office is responsible for administering Temple-sponsored study abroad programs; advising Temple students on study abroad program and scholarship opportunities; serving as a liaison between the main campus and our campuses in Rome and Tokyo, acting as a resource for the Temple University community on matters concerning international education, and responding to increasing interest in international activities on the part of Temple students and faculty. We continue to develop and strengthen the international education programs that help Temple students attain a global perspective. We recognize that today, more than ever, the world demands that students understand other countries and how they are linked together. We are committed to the notion that through international education, Temple students enrich their general education, acquire knowledge and experience for their later professional success, and develop life skills needed to become competent and engaged global citizens.