Republic of the Philippines

Tarlac State University

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
CENTER OF DEVELOPMENT
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Re-Accredited Level IV by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of
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______________________________________________________________________________

TITLE Chinese Literature

I. INTRODUCTIO Literature is a broad work of art that every country

N possesses. It’s a vital part of every country’s culture that had been
preserved and passed from one generation to another either
through oral or written form. Knowing about a country’s culture
is as significant as understanding its literature.

This lesson provides information about the China’s historical

and cultural background as well as Chinese Literature. It includes
China’s geographical description, famous cultural heritage and
cuisines, the cultural background and history of its country
including significant periods to its Literature from the Shang
Dynasty to the Modern Era. These periods define how the
literature of China changed over the past eras and how it affects
the China’s culture.

Moreover, different Chinese authors will also be introduced

as well as their famous works. Information about famous literary
pieces like poems and famous books of Confucius will also be
discussed. Likewise, characteristics of Chinese literature will also
provide for a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of
 Chinese Literature. Knowing about China’s well-known literary
pieces provides explanation on how it differs from other country’s
literature, from the its characteristics to the themes being used.

INSTRUCTION TO
THE LEARNERS This paper discusses two broad categories: China’s Historical and
Cultural background and Chinese Literature.

Work through the sections of this paper in the order presented in

the graphic below.

1 2 3 4 5

1. Preparatory Activities
2. Developmental Activities
3. Closure Activities
4. Synthesis
5. Evaluation

II. LEARNING Learners should be able to:

OBJECTIVES a) Gain enough knowledge about China’s historical and
cultural background.
b) Explain the characteristics of Chinese Literature that
differs from other country’s literature.
c) Understand different Chinese Literature and its
significance to China’s culture.

III.CONTENT Before we start this chapter, let’s think and write your thoughts
A. PREPARAT and ideas about the following questions.
ORY
ACTIVITIES 1. Can you name something where China/Chinese people are
 well known of?
2. Why do you think there is a need to study other countries
literature like Chinese Literature?
3. What are the characteristics of Chinese Literature that you
know?
4. Can you explain the meaning of “vernacular language”?
5. What do you know about the works of Confucius?

B. DEVELOPME Here are the things that you need to know about the China’s
NTAL culture, history, literature and its characteristics and significance.
ACTIVITIES

China’s Historical and Cultural Background

China is a country with an official name of People’s
Republic of China and Beijing as its capital lead by President Xi
Jinping. China is the largest country located entirely within Asia,
covering over 3.7 million square miles. More than 70 % of the
population speaks Mandarin or “Putonghua”, other dialects
include Yue (Cantonese), Min Dialeat, Gan Dialect and the such.
Majority of Chinese are Buddhist (18.2%) followed by Christian.
Today, China is an upper middle-income country but has
remaining challenges.

China is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations alongside

Babylon, India and Egypt, according to Chinese scholar Liang
Qichao (1900). It boasts a vast and varied geographic expanse, as
well as a rich and profound culture. Chinese culture is diverse and
unique, yet harmoniously blended — an invaluable asset to the
world. China's national heritage is both tangible and intangible,
with natural wonders and historic sites, as well as ethnic songs
and festivals included. As of 2018, 53 noteworthy Chinese sites
were inscribed on UNESCO's World with 36 Cultural Heritage,
13 Natural Heritage, and 4 Cultural and Natural Heritage.This
includes the Great Wall of China which is one of the greatest
sights and the longest wall in the world located at Beijing City. It
was built in different areas by different dynasties to protect
different territorial boarders. Often said that First Emperor of Qin
built the Great Wall but he was not actually the first. Other
cultural heritage of China includes,Temple of Heaven, Forbidden
City, Terracotta Warriors, Leshan Giant Buddha.

.
Moreover, China has several traditional festivals that are
celebrated all over the country in different ways. Chinese New
Year also called as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China’s
most important festival. A time for families to be together and a
week of an official public holiday. This year 2021, it falls on
Friday, February 12. The date of Chinese New Year is determined
by the lunar calendar. Different tribes celebrate their new year,
harvest, and other things, in various ways. Other significant
festival includes, Dragon boat festival, Mid-Autumn Festival,
Lantern Festival and Qing Ming Festival.

Chinese cuisines are also famous in various parts of the

world. One of the most known food of Chinese is dumplings
which consist of minced meat and chopped vegetables wrapped in
a thin dough skin. It’s a traditional dish eaten on Chinese New
Year’s Eve. Although rice is the dietary staple in most of the
country. They also have Hotpot, Sichuan Pork and Wonton.

China’s Culture

Chinese culture is said to have begun with the Yellow

Emperor, over 5,000 years ago. He was a cultivator of the Tao or
the Way and was said to have great power and wisdom. He taught
his subjects how to live in accordance with the heavenly Way.
Some of the Chinese culture is that when they come on a visit,
they usually give some wine, tea or candy. But take in mind not to
give presents in number of four or in black or white color, which
are symbols of death in China. Don’t give clock as a present to
Chinese person. The phrase “giving clock or Song Zhong because
it means looking after a dying person or burying a person.
Since ancient times, China has been known as the
“Celestial Empire”. This refers not only to China’s strength and
position as East Asia’s Middle Kingdom, it also captures a more
profound meaning, describing a land where the divine and mortal
once coexisted. It refers to the belief that the divine, through
various dynasties, transmitted a rich and abundant culture to the
Chinese people. Chinese culture is thus known as “divinely
inspired,” and is the only culture in the world to have a
continuous recorded history of 5,000 years. It has left behind
countless literary classics, historical documents, cultural relics,
and national records reflecting its immense scope. It was during
the Tang Dynasty (618 C.E.–907 C.E.) that religious practice in
China reached its peak, an era often seen as the pinnacle of
Chinese civilization.
Under the influence of these faiths, Chinese culture has
generated a rich and profound system of values. The concepts of
“man and nature must be in balance,” “respect the heavens to
know one’s destiny,” and the five cardinal virtues of benevolence,
righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness (ren yi li zhi
xin) are all products of these three religions’ teachings. These
principles have constantly played out over China’s 5,000-year-
long history.

CHINESE LITERATURE

China has one of the earliest civilizations in the world.

The brilliance of Chinese literature, with its long history, and
diversified genres and forms, rivals any great literature in the
world. Chinese literature is a vast subject that spans thousands of
years. One of the interesting things about Chinese literature is that
much of the serious literature was composed using a formal
written language that is called Classical Chinese. Chinese literary
works include fiction, philosophical and religious works, poetry,
and scientific writings. The dynastic eras frame the history of
Chinese literature and are examined one by one.

The grammar of the written Classical Language is

different than the spoken languages of the past two thousand
years. Most writers studied very ancient writings in more or less
the original written language. This large breadth of time with so
many writers living in the various eras and countries makes
Chinese literature complex wherein it had been through different
periods.

Shang Dynasty (about 1700-1050 BC)- Development of

Chinese Writing The first dynasty for which there is historical
record and archaeological evidence is the Shang Dynasty. It was a
small empire in northern central China. No documents from that
country survive, but there are archaeological finds of hieroglyphic
writing on bronze wares and oracle bones. The hieroglyphic
writing system later evolved into ideographic and partly phonetic
Chinese characters.

Zhou Dynasty (1045-255 BC)- Basic Philosophical and

Religious Literature

The great literary works of philosophy and religion that

became the basis for Chinese religious and social belief stem from
what is called the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476) and the
Warring States Period (475-221). Taoism, Confucian literature,
and other prominent religious and philosophical schools all
emerged during these two periods.

The Chinese call this simultaneous emergence of religions

and philosophies the “One Hundred Schools of Thought.” Perhaps
so many philosophers could write simultaneously because they
lived in small kingdoms that supported them. 

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) -Literary Disaster and Legalism

An early form of Buddhism was also established in China

at that time, but their temples and literature were destroyed and
even less is known about them. The emperor wanted to reduce the
One Hundred Schools of Thought to one that he approved. He
ordered the destruction of most books all over the empire. He
even killed many Confucian philosophers and teachers. He
allowed books on scientific subjects like medicine or agriculture
to survive. So, the “Book Burning and Burial of Scholars” was a
literary disaster.

Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) -Scientific and Historical

Texts

The Han Dynasty era lasted for 400 years. At the beginning of the
era, Confucianism was revived. Confucian texts were rewritten
and republished. The Han Dynasty era was one of the two main
hotspot eras for scientific and technical advance. But printing
wasn’t available for wide publication of the information.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty towards the end of the Han era,
the influence of the philosophy of the Confucian Classics that
hindered scientific progress was waning. So people were more
free to pursue invention. 

Tang Dynasty (618-907) -Early Woodblock Printing and Poetry

This era’s main contribution to Chinese literature was in

the poetry of Dufu, Li Bai and many other poets. Dufu and Li Bai
are often thought of as China’s greatest poets. Li Bai (701–762)
was one of the greatest romantic poets of ancient China. He
wrote at least a thousand poems on a variety of subjects from
political matters to natural scenery. Then, Du Fu (712-770 AD)
also wrote more than a thousand poems. He is thought of as one
of the greatest realist poets of China. His poems reflect the hard
realities of war, dying people living next to rich rulers, and
primitive rural life.. It is thought that he lived in a simple hut
where he wrote many of his best realist poems. His poetry is still
read and appreciated by modern Chinese people.

Song Dynasty (960-1279) -Early Woodblock Printing, Travel

Literature, Poetry, Scientific Texts and the Neo-Confucian
Classics

It was weaker than the Tang Dynasty, but the imperial

government officials made remarkable scientific and technical
advances. One of the era’s technological accomplishments was
the invention of movable type about the turn of 2nd millennia
during the Northern Song period. This helped to spread
knowledge since printed material could be published more
quickly and cheaply. 

The Confucian Classics were important in China’s

history because from the Song Dynasty onwards, they were the
texts people needed to know in order to pass an examination for
the bureaucracy of China. These Confucian Classics were
the Five Classics. The Five Classics include: The Book of
Changes, The Classic of Poetry, The Record of Rites that was a
recreation of the original Classic of Rites of Confucius that was
lost in the Qin book purge, The Classic of History, and The
Spring and Autumn Annals that was mainly a historical record of
Confucius.

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) -Drama and Great Fictional Novels

Dramatic operatic theaters with human actors

speaking in vernacular language was a favorite form of
entertainment and some of China’s best dramatic scripts were
written then. The Yuan “Zaju” style of opera was similar to their
shadow plays. There were exciting plots, elaborate costumes,
refined music and singing, action, and dance.

Novels were another outstanding achievement of the Yuan

era. The novelists influenced the future development of the genre.
Two novels are still widely read now and are generally considered
two of the four greatest novels in Chinese literature. These
are Water Margin and The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) - Novels

A book that is one of the four great classics

called Journey to the West about a monk going to India was
written during this time of isolation. Maybe the thought of travel
to the lands in the west was appealing then. Novels were the era’s
main contribution. The Journey to the West is based on
the historical journey of a Buddhist to India during the Tang
era to learn Buddhist teachings and bring back scriptures and
information.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) — Novels and Pre-Modern Literature

The Qing Dynasty came under increasing attack from both

internal rebellions and foreign countries. In the 19th
century, foreign literature and the West became better known. In
the middle of this era, the last of China’s four great classic novels
was written called Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦); and near
the end of the era, modernistic literature developed. The Dream
of the Red Chamber also has an uncertain authorship

Modern Era (1912-present) -Westernized Literature

Sun Yat-sen led a revolution that marked the end of

Chinese dynasties in which a clan rules an empire. Of course, the
big change of Chinese society that happened with the change of
government led to a change in literature. 

It became westernized, and the Classical Language wasn’t

used. The national government wanted women to have more of an
equal status in society, and women writers and scholars were
taken more seriously. There was a lot of politically oriented
literature printed. Scholars had access to foreign literature, and
many students studied abroad. Writers generally wanted to lead
the way in transforming China into a modern industrialized
country and replacing Confucian life-style with a westernized
one. 

Chinese Authors

Three Great Chinese Authors

1. Confucius

Confucius’s family was extremely poor and his father died

when he was young. Despite his hardships, Confucius became a
scholar thanks to his voracious reading. He began working in the
local government in his late teens. During this time, Confucius
continued to study the classical arts, which included music,
calligraphy, archery, poetry, and history.
 By the time he reached his mid-30s, Confucius was a well-
respected teacher. Not only was Confucius interested in
transmitting knowledge, he believed that public education could
help transform people and society for the better. His belief in
education was so strong that it led to the eventual establishment of
the Imperial Examination system. For Confucius, it was integral
for scholars to share their knowledge with the public to create a
positive ripple effect throughout the nation.

Over the centuries, the Analects has become the most

important of the “Four Books” of Confucianism. This text, which
takes the form of a dialogue between Confucius and his students,
lays out the key ideas that inform Asian society to this day:
respect for elders, reverence for rituals, and the belief that a well-
rounded education makes a student virtuous.

Here are just a few gems from this wise text:

 “To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a

 disgrace.”
 “Not yet understanding life, how could you understand
death?”
 “To be poor without feeling ill will is much more difficult
than to be wealthy without being arrogant.”

2. Lao Tzu

Most of the stories about this writer’s life are shrouded in

mystery. Some scholars believe Tzu was an older contemporary
of Confucius, while others say “Lao Tzu” was just a name used
by a group of writers. The Tao Te Ching (Chinese: 道 德 經 )
contains 5,000 character mystical poem we still have today It has
exerted a profound effect on the history of Chinese religion and
spirituality.  Today, millions of people from all different faiths
have been inspired by Tzu’s witty, wise, and beautiful verses.

Here are a few verses that just might inspire you:

 “To understand the limitation of things, desire them.”

 “Trying to understand is like straining through muddy
water. Have the patience to wait! Be still and allow the
mud to settle.”
 “Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as
fear.”

3. Li Bai

Li Bai was a great lover of wine, women, and song. His

verses are concerned with romantic themes like impermanence,
immortality, drunkenness, and the sublimity of nature. One of the
most famous verses in all of Chinese poetry is Li Bai’s “Thoughts
on a Still Night.” Bai wrote this poem when he was on a
government assignment far away from his hometown. This short
verse remains one of the most profound poetic expressions of
homesickness in any language:
Before my bed, the moon is shining bright,
I think that it is frost upon the ground.
I raise my head and look at the bright moon,
I lower my head and think of home.

Characteristics of Chinese literature

1.) It is the only country that has had literature written
consecutively for three thousand years.
Chinese literature is one of the major literary heritages of
the world, with an uninterrupted history of more than 3,000 years,
dating back at least to the 14th century BCE. Its medium,
the Chinese language, has retained its unmistakable identity in
both its spoken and written aspects. The practice of collecting and
reproducing libraries has also played a major role in the
transmission of literary tradition. 
As you would expect from a country that is that old, there have
been many different works that are considered classics in the
literary world.
2.) Most of the literature is philosophical and didactic.
Philosophers are Confucius, Mo Ti, Mencius, Lao-Tzu, Teng
Shih, and others from the Hundred Schools of Thought The most
important of these philosophical writings, as far as Chinese
culture are concerned, are the texts known as The Five Classics
and The Four Books (The I-Ching, The Classics of Poetry, The
Classics of Rites, The Classics of History, The Spring and
Autumn Annals, The Analects of Confucius, The Works of
Mencius, The Doctrine of the Mean, and The Great Book of
Learning). Although these works are not 'literature' in an artistic
sense, they were central to Chinese education and remain just as
important in China today as they were in the past. 
These books come from all sorts of different genres but are
mostly works of fiction, philosophy, religion, and historical texts.
These texts are, much like the country they originated from,
considered classics because of the new ideas and sense of
ingenuity that they represent and present.

3.) Chinese literature gradually becomes more elitist and

complex
Literature also becomes more elitist, for an understanding or
appreciation of a text may require familiarity with the models
being alluded to. In 1942 Mao Zedong, in his "Talks at Yenan on
Literature and Art," emphasized to his fellow communist
revolutionaries that the goal of literature was neither to reflect the
dark side of society nor to express the author's own private
feelings or artistic inspirations. Instead, he said, literature and art
should inspire the masses by presenting positive examples of
heroism and socialist idealism. It should also be written in the
public voice and style of the workers, peasants, and soldiers, not
of the elite intellectuals.
4.) Numerous and Vast
Chinese literary works are too numerous to list here, spanning
some 2,000 years, but among the most influential are those of the
Tang Dynasty. The philosophers and poets of China created many
important artistic works, which are still admired today and which
contributed to and complemented the works of literary prose
which were also produced.
It is difficult enough to write the history of a national literature
where this history is relatively short, as in Russian or American
literature. The problem becomes exponentially larger with a
national literature that spans three millennia, and, measured by
sheer volume of text, might well be larger than all other national
literatures combined. Yet writing a history of Chinese literature is
not impossible. Over the last century, a number of efforts have
been made in various languages: many in Chinese, a good number
in Japanese, and about twenty in European languages, including a
few in English.

MNEMONICS FOR THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

OF CHINESE LITERATURE
O – ldie but Goodie / Classic
P – hilosopical and Didactic
E – litist and Complex
N- umerous and Vast

MODERN CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINESE

LITERATURE
“The modern intellectual tradition of China began with
translation, adaptation, appropriation, and other interlingual
practices related to the West” – Lydia Liu
1. The use of the vernacular language, instead of the classical
language.
2. Freedom of expression.
3. Gender equality.
Examples of Literary Works form
Modern Chinese Literature

-" Summer snow ", A play that tells the

tragedy of how a woman was unjustly
accused. It was written by Guan Hanging
during the Yuan Dynasty
-" The romance of the three kingdoms ", Novel that is considered
one of the most important texts of Chinese
literature. It was written by Luo Guan
Zhong during the Yuan Dynasty. This
novel is of great extension and was
presented in the vernacular language.

" Dream of the red chamber", Novel

written in vernacular language. It is
attributed to Cao Xuegin.

WHO IS CONFUCIUS?
Confucius is China’s most
famous teacher, philosopher,
and political theorist, whose
ideas have profoundly
influenced the civilizations of
China and other East Asian
countries.

A WIFE MOURNS FOR HER HUSBAND

BY CONFUCIUS

The dolichos grows and covers the thorn,

O’er the waste is the dragon-plant creeping.
The man of my heart is away and I mourn–
What home have I, lonely and weeping?
Covering the jujubes the dolichos grows,
The graves many dragon-plants cover;
But where is the man on whose breast I’d repose?
No home have I, having no lover!
Fair to see was the pillow of horn,
And fair the bed-chamber’s adorning;
But the man of my heart is not here, and I mourn
All alone, and wait for the morning.
While the long days of summer pass over my head,
And long winter nights leave their traces,
I’m alone! Till a hundred of years shall have fled,
And then I shall meet his embraces.
Through the long winter nights I am burdened with fears,
Through the long summer days I am lonely;
But when time shall have counted its hundreds of years
I then shall be his–and his only
Interpretation:
The poem is all about true love. Marriage is said to be a lifetime
commitment to a man. The pain and happiness of marriage are
said to be the spices of married life. But what if you have to say
good bye for a reason? Would it be fair if death separates the
couple?
Speaker of the poem: wife
Content: all about the mourning of the wife on her beloved
husband’s absence
Theme: true love, it depicts the sorrow and anguish of the wife
whose husband is gone
You may notice in every stanza, mostly at the end of the first and
third line have a rhythm

The Five Classics and Four Books

The five classics and four
books are the canonical works of
Confucian culture in the ancient
China. These literary works have a
far-reaching influence on the
Chinese culture that contributes on
how the mentality of Chinese
people was shaped.
Canonical works refers to those literary works that follows a
principle or rule that is usually religious or church-related.
The Five Classics and the four books cover such a wide
range of subjects, some are literature, history, philosophy,
politics, economics, education, moral ethics, geology, arts,
science and much more. Since, these works encompass lots of
subjects they were then serve
as a basis or main content for
the so-called civil service
examination of imperial china.
Civil service examination
This is a system of
testing designed to select the
most studious and learned
candidates for appointment as bureaucrats in the Chinese
government. Those who would be able to pass this type of
examination can have their position in the administrative branch
of the Chinese government. The reward is quite promising but the
content of the examination has multiple levels and were extremely
difficult to pass. It requires logic and extensive knowledge about
Confucian teachings that can be also found in these five classics
and four books. This civil service examination system was
already abolished on the year 1905 but its legacy still remains up
until now.

The Five Classics

A corpus of five ancient
Chinese books that are used as a
basis for studies, as a guide for
Chinese living, and as a way to
preserve the culture and history
of china. According to tradition,
they were compiled or edited by
Confucius himself but others
doubt it since some of the books already exists even before the
time of Confucius. The authorship of these five classics might be
vague, but they still attributed it to Confucius.
Confucius is a famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist,
whose ideas have profoundly influenced the civilizations of China
and other East Asian countries. In short, Confucius is one of the
most influential and well-known figures of china and the
neighboring countries.
1. The Classic of History
The Classic of History got its name in the Han Dynasty,
which means a book of previous generations. This classic was
considered as the first narrative history of ancient China that
served as the foundation of Chinese political philosophy for over
2,000 years. This can be also translated as the Book of Documents
(Shang Shu) or the Book of history (Shu Jing).
The classic of history is a compilation of 58 chapters
detailing the recorded events of the ancient China and the deeds
of the early Kings from different Chinese dynasties. Aside from
that, it also contains the ancient imperial proclamations and
conversations between emperors and ministers, mirroring the
astronomy, geography, philosophic thinking, education, criminal
law and institutional systems before.
The Classic of History retains some of the important historical
material coming from the Shang, Zhou, and Western Zhou
Dynasty. The main reason why it was considered as one of the
precious materials that can be used to understand further the
history of ancient Chinese society.

2. The Classic of
Poetry (Shi Jing)
This book can be translated as the “Book of Odes” or the “Book
of Songs”. It was also considered as the oldest poetry collection
of East Asia that people sought to be the expression of
Confucius’s philosophy. The Classic of Poetry contains 305
poems, hymns, and songs that addresses a wide range of daily
issues in ancient China such as love and marriage, agricultural
concerns, daily lives, and war. Traditionally, it was believed that
Kongzi (or “Master Kong” or “Confucius”) patiently hand-
selected each of these poems.
3.The Classic of Rites or The Record of Rites.
This book literally contains the Record of Rites or a
collection of texts describing the social forms, administration,
governmental organization, and ceremonial rites of the Zhou
Dynasty. The classic of Rites was the foundation of many ritual
principles that arise in later imperial China. Moreover, according
to this book, proper ritual conduct helps maintain harmony in the
empire, as well as it emphasizes the virtue of piety or the quality
of being religious.
Zhou Dynasty is the most culturally significant dynasty of the
Chinese history.
4.The Classic of Changes
The classic of Changes can
be also referred to as I Ching or
book of Changes. Symbolically
Chinese believe that this old classic
book can provide them guidance
for moral decision making.
This classic contains
system of divination, which is
centered largely around the principles of yin and yang. Yin Yang
is composed of dark and light swirls. The dark swirl (Yin) is
associated with shadows and femininity while on the other hand,
the light swirl (Yang) represents brightness, passion and growth.
5.The Spring and Autumn Annals
The longest among the Five Classics. The Spring and
Autumn Annals is about the historical chronicle of the State of Lu
(Confucius’ native state). Spring and Autumn Annals was created
specifically for annalistic purposes or for recording of events.
This classic was traditionally understood as being written by
Confucius, but modern scholars believed that the text was actually
written by various chroniclers from the State of Lu since it is
already written down before the time of Confucius.
Additional
information, during the
time of Confucius there
were actually six
classics that was known
in imperial china. The
said sixth classic was
The Classic of Music,
Book of Music, or
Yuejing. What happened in this book is that, it was completely
lost and destroyed during the Warring State Periods. The Classic
of Music contains 305 songs personally chosen and performed by
Confucius himself to ensure that they all properly fit together. The
Classic of Music was actually divided into four separate and
distinct categories all having a different focus; the song
(ceremonial anthems), the great ya (classical music), the little ya,
and the feng (popular and traditional music). This book didn’t
totally survive during the burning of the books in China but some
of its part was already included in the classic of rites.

The Four Books

The four books are also the authoritative books of
Confucianism in China that was written before 300 BC. These
contains significant core values, beliefs and most especially
Confucian teachings. Moreover, they are mainly used for the civil
service examination. The four books are; The Great Learning, The
Analects, Mencius, and The Doctrine of the Mean.
1. The Great Learning
 This book is a guide for moral self-cultivation.
Furthermore, it was stated in this book that the key to moral self-
cultivation is learning, or the investigation of things. Through the
investigation of things, one comes to understand the principle in
all things, which allows one to better comprehend the world. It is
also one of the beliefs of Chinese that through the process of
moral self-cultivation they can properly regulate their family,
bring order to the state, and ultimately achieve peace on Earth.
This book indeed expresses many themes of Chinese philosophy
and political thinking, the reason why it is said to be extremely
influential both in classical and modern Chinese thought.
2. The Analects
This book was written during the Spring and Autumn
period. The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese
history from approximately 771 to 476 BCE. According to the
Analects, the first step in knowing the Way or the means is to
devote oneself to learning. Aside from emphasizing learning,
Analects also embodies the importance of good governance, filial
piety, virtue, and ritual.
3. Mencius
This book is a
collection of
conversations between
Mencius and
Confucius. Mencius as
the book itself places a
strong emphasis on the
idea that all human
beings are inherently
good and moral. Meaning we are all born with the seeds of
righteousness and goodness, but we must learn on how to nurture
 and cultivate those seeds.
Mencius as one of the people who take part in this book is a
Chinese Confucian philosopher and a 4th-generation student of
Confucius. He was able to inherit the ideologies of Confucius and
he developed it further.
4. The Doctrine of the Mean
This book can be translated also as The Constant Mean or
Maintaining Perfect Balance. This small book consist of 33
chapters deals with maintaining a perfect balance and harmony in
one’s life. This was all about acting in accordance with what is
right and natural. To rectify the situation, this book encourages
people to engage in moral self-cultivation to know how to act
properly.

C. CLOSURE Share your thoughts about the relationship of culture, history, and
ACTIVTIES literature of China. Connect it with the literary works of Chinese
Literature. How can Chinese literature influence the world?

IV. SYNTHESIS /
GENERALIZA China is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations alongside
TION Babylon, India and Egypt. It is a country with an official name of
People’s Republic of China and Beijing as its capital lead by
President Xi Jinping. China is the largest country located entirely
within Asia, covering over 3.7 million square miles. More than 70
% of the population speaks Mandarin or “Putonghua”. China’s
national heritage is both tangible and intangible, with natural
wonders and historic sites, as well as ethnic songs and festivals
included such as The Great Wall of China and the celebration of
Chinese New Year. Chinese cuisines are also present in various
parts of the world such as dumplings, wontons and the such.

Chinese culture is said to have begun with the Yellow

Emperor, over 5,000 years ago. Since ancient times, China has
been known as the “Celestial Empire” as it captures a more
profound meaning, describing a land where the divine and mortal
once coexisted. They have the five cardinal virtues of
benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness.

Moreover, as part of China’s culture, the brilliance of

Chinese literature with its long history and diversified genres and
forms, rivals any great literature in the world. It has a vast subject
that spans thousands of years. It covers different periods from
Shang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty, Qin Dynasty to the Modern era it
has today. Some of the famous Chinese authors are Confucius,
Lao Tzu and Li Bai.

There are also different characteristics of Chinese literature.

One of it is the only country that has had literature written
consecutively for three thousand years. Chinese literature is one
of the major literary heritages of the world, with an uninterrupted
history of more than 3,000 years, dating back at least to the 14th
century BCE. Most of the literature is philosophical and didactic.
These books come from all sorts of different genres but are
mostly works of fiction, philosophy, religion, and historical texts.
These texts are, much like the country they originated from,
considered classics because of the new ideas and sense of
ingenuity that they represent and present.
Chinese literature gradually becomes more elitist and
complex. Literature also becomes more elitist, for an
understanding or appreciation of a text may require familiarity
with the models being alluded to. Lastly, it is also numerous and
vast where there are various literary works since the Chinese
literature began 3000 years ago. Confucius also wrote a literary
work in the art of poetry entitled “A Wife Mourns for her
Husband”. It depicts the sorrow and anguish of the wife whose
husband is gone.

The five classics and four books are the canonical works
of Confucian culture in the ancient China. These Confucian
classics serve as a basis or main content for the so-called civil
service examination of china which is a system designed to select
the most studious and learned candidates for appointment as
bureaucrats in the Chinese government. Moreover, these books
are also used as a guide to improve Chinese living, and as a way
to preserve the culture and rich history of china. Collectively, they
were said to be compiled or edited by Confucius that is why they
attributed it to him.

The Five Classics are The Classic of History, The Classic

of Poetry, The Classic of Rites, The Classic of Changes, and The
Spring and Autumn Annals. On the other hand, the Four Books
are The Great Learning, The Analects, Mencius, and The
Doctrine of the Mean. All in all, the content of these five classics
and four books revolves around the recorded events of ancient
china, church-related ideologies, ruler ship, core values, and most
especially significant Confucian teachings.

These literary works are indeed treasure of china that

extremely shaped the mentality of Chinese people and brought a
far-reaching influence on the Chinese culture and other aspects of
their lives. Truly that all of these Confucian classics will remain
their legacy and their significance in the literary history of China.
 V. EVALUATION
Direction: Reflect and write an essay of not less than 100 words
for the following questions below.

1. What is the importance of knowing the historical and

cultural background of China?
2. What are the characteristics of Chinese Literature?
3. What are the learnings that you got from the literary
pieces that was tackled?

 Give 5 examples each of literary works under the different

ASSIGNMENT /
dynasties of Chinese literature.
AGREEMENT
 Search for poem in Chinese Literature and identify its
theme.
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