CHINESE LITERATURE

*China-one of the four ancient civilizations in the world, has a written history of 4,000 years and boasts of rich literary
heritage and historical relics and sites. Its name derived from the word “Chin”- 3rd dynasty
-it is situated in the Eastern Asia, bounded by the pacific of the east. The 3rd largest country in the world, next to
Canada and Russia.
Literature: deals with the 3 of the 4 religions of China –(Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism)
China is a product of a number of Dynasties among which are the following:

A. CHOU (JOH) DYNASTY- (CHINA’S CLASSICAL AGE) -longest in Chinese history

*WU WANG-founder of this dynasty
- rulers of this period introduced the feudal system (land exchange for work)
*FIVE RELATIONSHIPS – counterpart of the Ten Commandments to the Christians
-it is the time where renowned teachers and philosophers were born.
Famous philosophers:
1. Confucius- founder of Chinese Literature
2. Lao Tse(Lao Tsu)- famous for the Tao-Te-Ching (Way of Life) which forms the basis of Taoism
3. Mencius- writer of seven unnamed books of philosophy based on Confucius’ teachings-his great teacher

B. CHIN DYNASTY
*Prince Cheng- founder who used the name Shin Huang Ti (Sher Huang Dee). First great emperor
*Great wall of China- the country’s contribution to the wonders of the world. This wall was the product of
forced labor and was built to protect the empire from the nomadic.
- it was also during this period when Chinese literature suffered a literary holocaust by the order of Shih Huang
Ti, the emperor.

C. HAN DYNASTY
- this dynasty ruled china for over 400 years
*Lin Pang- founder of this dynasty
-the government during this period was improved by appointing qualified officials who passed the civil service
examination
-literature had flourished
Great Literary figures appeared during this period are:
a. P’an Chao- the greatest female writer of China
b. Hsu Shen- compiled the old chinese dictionary
c. Ssu Ma Ch’ien- the father of Chinese History

D. SUI DYNASTY
-this period is remembered for the building of the “GRAND CANAL” which was built by a group of labourers with
ages 15-50 years old who worked under cruel task managers.

E. T’ONG /TANG Dynasty (THE GOLDEN AGE OF CHINESE CIVILIZATION AND CHINESE POETRY)
-China, during this period, became the most civilized, most progressive, and the mightiest nation in the world
-Gun powder and Method of Printing from carved wood were also discovered
*DIAMOND SUTRA- The oldest known book
*PEKING GAZETTE- the oldest newspaper
-in this period, education and arts and literature were developed and flourished. Schools in every village and
town were built.
*Chinese greatest poets namely LI-PO, TU FU, and PO-CHUI
*WU-TZU- the most outstanding painter

F. SUNG DYNASTY (Literary dynasty of China)–this was the continuation of the T’Ang empire.
Some famous personalities in this period are:
1. WANG AN-SHIN- A noted statesman and scholar who advised the emperor to institute state socialism and
other reforms in China
2. CHU HIS – the leading philosopher of the age and propounded the concepts of Confucianism
 3. CHAO-JU-KUA- wrote books which describes China’s relations with the countries and people of southeast
Asia.
4. SZU—MA KUANG- the greatest historical writer who compiled a voluminous history of China consisting of
294 chapters
5. the T’Ang dynasty’s greatest poets namely LI PO, TU FU, PO-CHUI
G. MING DYNASTY
-the Ming emperors wanted to bring back the pure Chinese state, patterned from the earlier T’Ang and
Sung dynasty.
-not all the works of this period were scholarly versions of the classics. Famous novels were read by
ordinary people as well as scholars.
*”ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS”- an adventure story about a band of outlaws led by a hero like Robinhood
POPULAR CHINES AUTHORS AND THEIR LITERARY WORKS
A. CONFUCIUS or KUNG FU TZE or KUNGFUZI- THE GREATEST OF ALL THE Chinese philosophers. His name KUNG
means PHILOSOPHER.
His famous golden rule “ WHAT YOU DO NOT LIKE WHEN DONE UNTO YOURSELF DO NOT DO OTHERS” or to
make it clearer “ Do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you.”
HIS FAMOUS LITERARY WORKS
1. THE FIVE CLASSICS- collected and edited by Confucius
a. Classic of changes (YI KING) –it is made up of geometrical combinations of six lines, plus sixty-four
explanatory essays
b. Classic of ceremonies (LI KI)- a voluminous work on etiquette
c. Classic of Historical Documents (SHU KING) – this is a formulation of political ideals and the
fundamentals of good government
d. Classic of Poetry (SHIU KING)- a selection of 305 best poems. This book stresses the cherishing of
thoughts and sentiments of forebears. Some of the poems are odes written for various occasions; some
are lyrics.
e. Classic of Spring and Autumn (CH’UN CH’IU)- it is called this way because according to its admirers its
praises were as stimulating as spring, while its censures/criticisms were as withering as autumn.
2. THE ANALECTS ( LUN YU) – it is made up of 24 chapters composed of sayings of Confucius collected by his
followers.
Example: An excerpts from the Analects (Sayings)
A. Book I
1. The philosopher Yu said, “They are few who being filial and fraternal, are fond of offensing their
superiors. There have been none, who, not liking to offend their superiors, have been fond of stirring up
confusions.”
B. BOOK III
1. The master said, “ Gentlemen never compete. You will say that in archery they do so, but even then
they bow and make way for one another, when they going up to the archery ground, when they are
coming down, and at the subsequent dringking-bout. Thus when competing, they still remain
gentlemen.”
C. BOOK IV
1. The master said, “ In the presence of a Good man, think all the time how you may learn to equal
him. In the presence of a bad man, turn your gaze within.”
D. BOOK VIII
1. The master said, “ learn as if you are following someone with whom you could not catch up, as
though it were someone you were frightened of losing
E. BOOK IX
1. The master said, “ first and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises. Refuse the
friendship of all are not like you; and if you have made a mistake, do not be afraid of admitting the
fact and amending your ways.”
B. LI-PO (or LI T’AI PO)= China’s greatest lyricist. He was described as brilliant, charming, handsome, romantic, and
a traveller. He became a poet under the patronage of Hsuan Shung and his son Prince Lin. Some of his poems
deal with the beautiful woman of Soochow and Chekiang, scenic atrractions of Yang tze, the poets love for wine
and his Taoist sentiments. The poem entitle “THE BITTER LOVE” proves his love of beauty.
The Bitter Love
How beautiful she lokks, opening the pearly casement
And how quiet she leans, and how troubled her brow is
You may see the tears now, bright on her cheek,
But not the man she so bitterly loves.
C. TU FU- a Confusian moralist, realist, humanitarian and public spirited. He held various government positions but
lost them because of war and boredom. His poetry finds him complaining of heavy taxes, military conscription,
and the price of food. One of his poems is entitled ‘A MEETING’ which discusses friendship.
A Meeting
by Tu Fu

We were often separated

Like the dipper and the morning star.
What night is tonight?
We are together in the candle light.

How long does youth last?

Now we are all gray-haired
Half of our friends are dead,
And both of us were surprised when we met.

Who would know that after 20 years

I would call upon you in your hall/
You were not married when we last parted,
And now you have sons and daughters
Who come courteously to met their fathers friend
And ask me where I came from

While we are thus greeting each other,

Your sons and daughters begin to prepare the wine.
They gather the spring spinach on this rainy night
And prepare for the feast with the new made ale.
D. LU SHUN, the pen name of CHOU-SHU-JEN, the founder of the modern Chinese literature. He believed in
merging aspects of foreign culture and life into Chinese literature. In early 1920’s, he was convinced that only
revolution can solve China’s social problems ineffect he joined the community party of Chiang Kai- Shek and was
regarded by Mao Tse-tung a national hero. Her famous literary works are “Call to Arms, Hesitation, and Diary of
Madman.” “ THE NEW YEAR’S SACRIFICE” expose the issues of women’s right.
E. CAO XUE QIN= Wrote the famous novel “The Story of the Stone” which is the greatest masterpiece of the classic
novels. The novel tells the glory of and fall of the renowned Jia family. The literary piece “THE DREAM OF A RED
CHAMBER” –this novel was taken from the Golden Days, the first volume of the story of the stone.

JAPANESE LITERATURE
JAPAN-the name was derived from a Chinese term ‘JIHPEN’ which means Sun origin. This country is being
symbolized by a sun thus calling it a “Nippon- land of the rising sun.”.
-some of Japan’s literary geniuses are SEI SHONAGON, MURASAKI SHIKIBU, YOSHIDA , BASHO, MOTOKIYO
ZEAMI, LU HSUN, YASUNARI KAWABATA,etc.
The major islands comprising Japan proper are HOSHU, HOKAIDO, KIPHU, and SHIKOKU
*Its history is divided into several periods as follows:
A. ARCHAIC PERIOD
- Jimmy was the first Japanese Emperor.
- The early Japanese used to have reverence for the spirits called Kami. This belief grew into a state
religion-Sinto which means The Way of the Gods.
-*Prince Shotoku- father of Japanese culture, he established Buddhism, Confucian bureaucracy and
chinese sciences
-there was no significant events in literature during this period except for the Chinese script which was
brought to Japan by Wani.
B. NARA PERIOD
- the tempyo or golden age of Buddhist Japanese art and of court poetry. It adopted some foreign
influences- Chinese politics, Buddhist on art and religion, and Korea on education.
The famous literary works of the period are:
1. Tanka and Naga-uta (short and long poems)
 2. Kojiki- records of ancient matters containing 111 poems in Chinese characters representing Japanese words.
3. Nihongi – early history written in Chinese containing 132poems
4. Manyoshu- greatest of early anthologies containing more than 4,000 poems by Hitomoro Akahito and
others
d. HEIAN PERIOD
-the name originated from the capital now called Kyoto. This was period of peace, prosperity , aesthetic,
refinement, artificial manners and the decline of Chinese influences.
Some literary figures are as follows:
1. Tsurayuki- wrote KOKINSHU, anthology of ancient and modern poetry and Tosa Diary
2. Lady Komachi & Narihana- they are the outstanding authors
3. Ise Monogotari and Taketori Monogotari- early prose fiction
4. Sei Shonagon- he wrote the PILLOW BOOK
5. Murasaki Shikibu- wrote the Tale of Genji, the greatest Japanese work of fiction
A. KAMAKURA PERIOD
- the new government was imposed by the shoguns dictating the emperors. Feudalism and Bushido ( way of
the horse and the bow) were adapted by samurai and warriors supported by Zen Buddhism. On the
other hand, arts of picture scroll, ceramics, tea-drinking and architecture flourished.
The famous literary figures of this period are;
1. Kamo No Chomei- Hojoki an account of hermit life
2. Heiki Monogotari- historical war tales of Taira clan
3. Yoshida Kento- Grasses of Idleness
B. MUROMACHI PERIOD
- this was a period of conflict, feudal unrest, flock of warriors to cities nd rise of commerce supported by
Buddhist monasteries. Education and arts flourished. this was considered the dark age of Japanese
literature as a result there were no famous authors and works recorded except for the development of
the NOH DRAMA which was initiated and developed by KWANAMI and SEAMI, his son.
F. MODERN AGE (1603-PRESENT)
- were implemented while the exclusion policy against Europeans, suppression of Christianity, decline of
Buddhism and rise of Confucianism were witnessed. In the field of literature Kabuki a popular theatre
and Jorori a puppet stage were introduced.
Some poular authors of this period are:
1. SAIKAKU- popular novelist
2. BASHO-most famous Haiku poet
3. CHIKAMATSU MONZAEMON- leading dramatist of Japan
4. ISSA-revived haiku poems
5. BAKN -last great novelist
6. MASAOKA SHIKI- the father of modern Haiku

II. General View of Japanese Literature

Japanese literature is divided into four literary forms namely:
A. KABUKI- traditional theatrical arts also known for its male impersonators called as ONNAGATA
portraying the female parts
B. NOH PLAYS or DRAMA- introduced by Seam, I Motokiyo and his father Kiyotsugu Kan’ami.
C. This is a highly aristocratic form of art which requires long years of training from itd actors. It is a highly
conventional, non-realistic dramatic form which involves spiritual exercise and discipline.
D. TANKA- a 31 syllabled poem and said to be the origin of Haiku
E. HAIKU-a 17 syllabled poem which id divided to 7-5-7 syllable phrases
III. AUTHORS AND SOME OF THEIR WORKS
A. YASUMARI KAWABATA- first Japanese writer to win the Nobel prize for literature. His works, “THE
GRASSHOPER AND THE BELL CRICKET’ displays his capability of creating atmosphere and tone. He
describes this as a story where his poetic spirit during his young days.
B. MATSU BASHO- the most famous haiku poet; example: The Poor Man’s Son , Clouds
C. MASAOKA SHIKI- was born during a time of great change in Japan. He became the leader of a literary
revolution attached to establish order particularly the rules which had influenced poetic compositions.
Example: The Apprentice Priest ling, The New and The Old
D. MURASAKI SHIKIBU ; SEI SHONAGON; MOTOKIYO ZEAMI
A Meeting
by Tu Fu

We were often separated

Like the dipper and the morning star.
What night is tonight?
We are together in the candle light.

How long does youth last?

Now we are all gray-haired
Half of our friends are dead,
And both of us were surprised when we met.
Who would know that after 20 years
I would call upon you in your hall/
You were not married when we last parted,
And now you have sons and daughters
Who come courteously to met their fathers friend
And ask me where I came from

While we are thus greeting each other,

Your sons and daughters begin to prepare the wine.
They gather the spring spinach on this rainy night
And prepare for the feast with the new made ale.

The New Year’s Eve Sacrifice

By: Lu SHun

The Dream of the Red Chamber

By: Cao Xue Qin