As we examine the histories of China, Korea, and Japan in the modern period, we notice the indelible and profound mark that wars and armed uprisings have left on collective consciousness, social structures, and state formation in and beyond East Asia. On a social level, the impact of large-scale violence often transcended territorial boundaries both locally and nationally. Historical sources also show that countless families and communities were left disintegrated as a consequence of intra- and inter-regional military conflict. This course will examine a wide array of war experiences in East Asia in the modern period, roughly defined as the period from the sixteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. We will ask how the history of war might shed light on the lives of ordinary people in East Asia. Particular attention will be paid to war experiences behind the front lines and the nature of the relation between war and society during and in the wake of battle. The general course format consists of class discussion on, and close analysis of, the assigned readings, which will include monographs by contemporary scholars as well as primary materials in translation.