ASIAN

LITERATURE

Prepared by:
GILBERT N. BERSOLA, BSEd4
 ASIAN
LITERATURE
It refers to the study of the literature of the people in:
1. China
2. India
3. Japan
4. Other small nations surround them
 CHINA
Chinese civilization is the oldest civilizations in the world that dates back to
the Shang Dynasty in 1765 B.C.
It is known as “The Red Dragon”.
The Chou Dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty of great intellectual
activity and was in this period when the philosophies of the Confucianism,
Taoism and legalism originated.

It is the longest dynasty in Chinese history which lasted from 1122 B.C. To
256 B.C.
The Han Dynasty which succeeded after the collapse of the Chou
strengthened the unity within the bureaucracy but Confucianism was
substituted for Legalism.
THE FIVE CLASSICS
1. THE BOOK OF CHANGES
2. THE BOOK OF HISTORY
3. THE BOOK OF RITES
4. THE BOOK OF ODES
5. THE SPRING AND AUTUMN ANNALS
Confucius- perhaps the greatest philosopher of the world has known.
One of the truly great men that China has produced.
The word Confucius is the westernized form of his name, which is Kung
Fu-tze, Kung being his proper name, Fu signifying revered, and tze
signifying teacher.
Li Po (701 – 761), or Li tai Po, was one of the leading Chinese poets of the
eighth century. His writings deal with the good things of life and with the
pathos of human destiny. With a striking vividness they treat of love,
friendship, wine, nature, and simple village living.
Po – Chu – I (722 – 846) was a well-known Chinese poet who represented
the classical tradition in Chinese literature, politics and morality.
 INDIAN
LITERATURE
India is the vast land in Southern Asia, extending from the Himalayan
Mountains south to the tip of a great peninsula that reaches from out into
the Indian Ocean.
It is known as “Land of prayer”.
The first characteristic we notice about Indian literature is that it is based on
piety, a deeply religious spirit.
Dravidians- earliest people in India dating back to 3000 – 2500 B.C.
Towards 2000 B.C.
Sanskrit- literature of India. The word “sanskrit” means cultivated or
perfected.
Vedas – the bible of the Indians.
Ramayana and Mahabharata are the most important epics of India.
Ramayana – is about the reincarnation of the creator god Vishnu in the
person of Rama, who is the hero of the epic.
Mahabharata – deals with the other reincarnation of Vishnu in the person of
Krishna. It is considered as the greatest epic of India.
The Indians believe in reincarnation.
The reincarnation of Vishnu are called Avatars, descending from the god.
 ROOTS OF INDIAN
LITERATURE
1. Rig-Veda – made up of hymns in praise of the gods. The hymns are
strong, energetic religions expressions comparable to the Old Testament
Psalms.
2. Upanishads- consists of a group of sketches, illustrations, explanations
and critical comments on the religious thoughts suggested by the poetic
hymns of Rig-Veda.
 INDIAN DRAMA
The first great name in Indian drama is Bhasa. (13 plays are attributed to
him.)
Kalidasa – the greatest writer of plays. He is the author of Shakuntala.
- he is called the brightest of the “nine gems of genius”.
Shakuntala – it is a story of a king who goes hunting in the woods and
meets a beautiful maiden named Shakuntala with whom he falls in love.
Panchatantra (Five headings) – a book that said to contain the first fables
ever written. Fables are stories of animals who behave like human beings.
Rabindranath Tagore – was a great Indian poet and dramatist. He was
awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913 and was knighted by the
british government in 1915.
 JAPAN
Also known as “The Land of the Rising Sun”.
The earliest writings from ancient Japan are:
1. The Records of Ancient Matters in Kojiko (A.D. 712)
2. The Chronicles of Japan or Nihongi (A.D. 720)
 JAPANESE
LITERATURE
It is one of the major Oriental Literatures.
Katakana – basic alphabet in Japan which consists 47 characters.
Earliest Japanese Literary works:
1. Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters)
2. Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan)
 JAPANESE DRAMA
Drama – favorite form of amusement.
Three Types of Japanese Drama:
1. Noh play
2. Joruri or puppet play
3. Kabuki play
 NOH PLAY
It is the national theater of Japan.
 THE PUPPET PLAY (DOLL THEATER)

The puppets are beautifully made and lifelike in size. The strings are
expertly manipulated and the dialogue reastically interpreted.
 KABUKI PLAY
The play of the masses. It is less intellectual, more realistic, even
sensational.
 JAPANESE POETRY
Manyo Shu (Collection of myriad leaves) – oldest collection of poetry. It
was compiled in 800 A.D. The collection titled One Hundred Persons was
compiled much later.
 HAIKU
Shortest form of Japanese poetry but most popular. It has seventeen-
syllable poem in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables.
Example:

Poetry and love

will fill your heart forever,
or rip it to shreds!
 TANKA
A five-line poem. The first and third line lines have five syllables each and
the others seven, making a total of thirty-one syllables per poem.
Example:
O pine tree standing
At the side of the stone house,
When I look at you,
It is like seeing face to face
The men of old time.
- Hakutsu, from the Manyo Shu
DO I BELONG HERE?