Republic of the Philippines

City of Taguig
Taguig City University
Gen. Santos Avenue, Central Bicutan, Taguig City

CHINESE LITERATURE

Thought for the day:

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

I. Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. understand the similarities and differences of Chinese culture to Filipino culture;
b. recognize the great Chinese authors; and
c. give an interpretation of a literary piece.

II. Preparatory Activities

Guess the photo that describe the Chinese culture

1. CHINA FLAG

2. DRAGON DANCE
3. CHINESE LANTERN

4. LUCKY BRACELET

5. AMPAO

6. BUDDHISM / BHUDDA

7. ZODIAC SIGN
8. SIOPAO

9. MANEKI NEKO – LUCKY CAT

10. CHINESE LANTERN

III. DISCUSSION

A. Similarities and Differences of Filipino culture to Chinese culture

Culture - is a word for the 'way of life' of groups of people, meaning the way they do
things. Different groups may have different cultures. A culture is passed on to the
next generation by learning, whereas genetics are passed on by heredity. Culture is
seen in people's writing, religion, music, clothes, cooking and in what they do.

Culture is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive

constructs and affective understanding that are learned through a process of
socialization. The shared patterns identify the members of a culture group while also
distinguishing those of another group

Philippine culture
The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish
Catholic traditions, with influences from America and other parts of Asia. The Filipinos
are family oriented and often religious with an appreciation for art, fashion, music and
food.

Chinese Culture
Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest cultures, tracing back to thousands of
years ago. Important components of Chinese culture include ceramics, architecture,
music, literature, martial arts, cuisine, visual arts, philosophy, and religion.

Similarities and Differences between Philippine Culture and Chinese Culture

Differences

a. Abortion (Pro Life / Pro Choice) – tied closely with religion, but as people know in
China there is still the 1 baby per family law – and abortion is open and legal, while
in Philippines, it is ILLEGAL and banned. After morning pills aren’t even found in
the Philippines, where you can buy those over the counter in 7-11 style store 24
hours a day.
b. Openness to foreign investment – Chinese feel foreigners come to take advantage
and dominate their market, but Filipinos welcome foreigners with open arms.
Again, I think this is because the Chinese market is large (like USA) and therefore,
a bigger market size can be more “Closed” to foreign investment as the domestic
market can be self-fulfilling
c. The Chinese and Filipino celebrate different traditions that are held each year.
Generally Chinese believe in Buddhism and the Chinese Gods and Goddesses,
whereas the Filipinos are Catholic and believe in Jesus, and how he sacrificed
himself on the cross, dying for their sins.
Similarities

a. Festive Festivals - Here in the Philippines, we have different festivals in different

places in our country. Same as with the Chinese culture, they also have different
festivals such as the dragon Boat Festival, Lantern Festival, the 24 solar turn etc.
b. Respect to Elderlies – “Mano po,” the usage of “Opo” and “po” are part of the
Filipino values. Chinese also have this kind of value. Although it is not necessarily
the usage of “po” and “opo”, this also signifies respect to the elders. In China, they
use the word “Ni hao” that means respect.
c. Family Oriented – The Chinese idea family, four generations living together,
symbolizes the ideals of harmony, happiness longevity, and a large thriving family.
In the Filipino tradition, if a man ever marries a woman, you also marry the family.
It is also common that a Filipino family get to live with their families.

B. Chinese Literature

Chinese literature, the body of works written in Chinese, including lyric poetry, historical
and didactic writing, drama, and various forms of fiction.

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.

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 in spite of generally gradual changes in pronunciation, the existence
of regional and local dialects, and several stages in the structural representation of the
written graphs, or “characters.” Even the partial or total conquests of China for
considerable periods by non-Han Chinese ethnic groups from outside the Great Wall
failed to disrupt this continuity, for the conquerors were forced to adopt the written
Chinese language as their official medium of communication because they had none of
their own. Since the Chinese graphs were inherently nonphonetic, they were at best
unsatisfactory tools for the transcription of a non-Chinese language, and attempts at
creating a new alphabetic-phonetic written language for empire building proved
unsuccessful on three separate occasions. The result was that after a period of alien
domination, the conquerors were culturally assimilated (except the Mongols, who
retreated en masse to their original homeland after the collapse of the Yuan [or
Mongol] dynasty in 1368). Thus, there was no disruption in China’s literary development.

10 great writers from China’s long literary history

a. Qu Yuan (339-278 BC) was a statesman and poet during the Warring States
period. He has been attributed to the first seven poems of the Chu ci (Songs
of Chu). He served under King Huai but was banished after composing the
poem “Li Sao” (Encountering Sorrow), which attacked the court for failing to
listen to his advice. He committed suicide by throwing
b. Wang Wei (701-761) was a painter, musician, poet, and devout Buddhist. He
composed “landscape poems” while roaming the lands near the Wang River,
exchanging verses with his friend Pei Di. A Zen Master taught him the
doctrine of dunwu (instantaneous enlightenment), and Wei’s later poetry
reflects his devotion. He was referred to as Shi fo, or the Buddha of Poetry.
The poet Su Shi said of his works: “There is painting in his poetry, and poetry
in his painting.”
c. Shi Nai’en (1296-1372) was the author of the first of the “four great classical
novels,” though some historians believe his mentor Luo Guanzhong played a
role its writing. Not much is known about Shi, but the work attributed to
him, Shuihu zhuan (Water Margin), about a rebellious leader of outlaws, has
been equally banned and celebrated over hundreds of years. Water
Margin was written in popular vernacular and expanded on its characters in
contrast to the historical writings of the time, advancing the art of the novel.

d. Luo Guanzhong (1330-1400) was a prolific writer who has had many
anonymous works attributed to him over the years. Historians agree that the
second of the “four great classical novels,” Sanguo yani (Romance of the
Three Kingdoms), was written by Luo. Over 750,000 Chinese characters long,
the novel told the story of three kingdoms over the course of a century. It was
based on a historical account and contained historical figures, but also
incorporated folk stories and plots from popular dramas of the time.

e. Not much is known about Wu Cheng’en (c. 1500-1582), the author to whom
the third of the “four great classical novels,” Xi you ji (Journey to the West), is
attributed. Loosely based on the historical account of the Buddhist monk,
Xuanzang, the novel humorously followed a group of pilgrims on a journey to
India and back. The novel contained religious themes, witty dialogue, and
 elegant poems, as well as critical commentary on contemporary Ming-era
China.

f. The Laughing Scholar of Lanling was the pseudonym of the unknown

author of the controversial novel Jin Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase).
It has been frequently banned for its pornographic nature since its publication
around 1610. American translator David Todd Roy suspected poet Xu
Wei (1521-1593) to be its author. Wei was famous for his painting and
calligraphy, and he was an early proponent of women’s rights, writing a
popular play on the legend of Mulan; however, he was also imprisoned for the
murder of his second wife.

g. Cao Xueqin (1715-1763/64) was the author of the fourth of the “four great
classical novels,” Honglou meng (Dream of the Red Chamber), which told the
story of an aristocratic family and its downfall. The novel was written in
vernacular and published in two editions: the 80-chapter version reportedly
based on Cao’s life, and the 120-chapter “Cheng edition,” published
posthumously in 1791 and believed to have been enhanced by the scholar
Gao E. Cao’s novel is so important to Chinese literature that an entire field of
study called hongxue (redology) arose in the 1920s.

h. Lu Xun (1881-1936) studied medicine in Japan as a young man but

ultimately concluded that he was better served as a writer. In 1918, he
published his first short story, A Madman’s Diary, the first colloquial story in
modern Chinese literature. His writings comprised many genres, from fiction
to zawen (satire) to a historical account of Chinese fiction. Mao Zedong called
Lu “the standard-bearer” of the new Chinese culture that arose after the May
Fourth Movement.

i. Ba Jin (1904-2005), born Li Yaotang, began his career as a poet but

achieved fame as a novelist. His most famous novel was Jia (The Family); in
addition to these novels, he also translated Russian, British, German, and
Italian works. Ba Jin’s most famous later work was Suixiang lu (Random
Thoughts), a painful reflection on the Cultural Revolution in which he was
persecuted as a “counter-revolutionary.”

j. Zhang Ailing (or Eileen Chang) (1920-1995) was a student during the
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. She returned to her
home in Shanghai and supported herself by publishing short stories and
novels about the plight of women in difficult romantic relationships. She wrote
the anti-communist novel Rice Sprout Song in 1952 and moved to the United
 States three years later, where she wrote novels and screenplays. In 2007,
Ang Lee directed a movie adaptation of her novel Lust, Caution.

C. Discover the literary significance of a certain piece.

Thoughts on a Silent Night

Moonlight falls at the foot of my bed,
Seeming like a first on the frozen ground.
I look up and see the bright moon,
And I look down, reminded of my hometown.

静夜思
Jìng yè sī

床前明月光，
Chuáng qián míng yuè guāng,

疑是地上霜。
Yí shì dì shàng shuāng.

举头望明月，
Jǔ tóu wàng míng yuè,

低头思故乡。
Dī tóu sī gù xiāng.
  The “Thought on a Silent Night” was written by Li Po or Li Tai Bai

 Li Bai, also known as Li Bo, courtesy name Taibai, art name Qinglian Jushi,
was a Chinese poet acclaimed from his own day to the present as a genius
and a romantic figure who took traditional poetic forms to new heights.
 This was a Chinese poet during Tang Dynasty
 Li Po or Li Tai bai influenced countless people in China through his poetry.
 Many of his Poems are still included in most Chinese school books
 Moon/ Moonlight
 The moon has a deep meaning in Chinese culture. Moon at its fullness stage
is a perfect circle. The perfect full moon signifies union, family reunion. The
shape of full moon is like a all family members are at home and no one is
absent.
 The poem is universal because it arouses people’s resonance of homesickness.
This poem was a very heart – touching to may people, especially the person who
is working or studying afar from their family or loved ones.

IV. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

1.How do you define culture?

Culture is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions,

cognitive constructs and affective understanding that are learned through
a process of socialization. The shared patterns identify the members of a
culture group while also distinguishing those of another group

2-5. Give 2 examples of similarities and differences of Philippine culture and Chinese
culture?
2 Similarities and 2 Differences
6.What is literature? (based on your knowledge)
Literature is a written works, especially those considered of superior or
lasting artistic merit.
7. What is the theme of the poem?

9.What was the tittle of the Poem we tackled?

The tittle of the poem is “Thoughts on a Silent Night”

10.How do you relate on what was the poem talked about.

 Self-opinionated

V. REFERENCES:

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture#cite_ref-1
https://stunningtours.com/chinese-culture-
html/#:~:text=Chinese%20culture%20is%20one%20of,visual%20arts%2C%20philosop
hy%20and%20religion.
10 great writers from China’s long literary history | OUPblog
Cultural Differences Between Philippines + China - Expat.com.ph
Similar Values and Traditions of Filipino and Chinese (slideshare.net)
Reference: https://www.slideshare.net/CJDCL/differentiating-filipinos-and-chinese

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