Chinese Literature
Flag
 October 1, 1949
 Red – communist revolution.
 Larger gold star – communism.
 Four smaller stars – social classes of
people.
Beijing
 Capital of China
 Has history stretching back 3
millennia.
Great Wall of China
 Grandest stone defensive construction.
 In North China; stems from
Shanhaiguan Pass in east and stretches
to Jia Yu Gan in west.
 6700 kilometers, a 10,000-li wall
 Began when fortifications built by
various states were connected by
emperor, Qin Shi Huang, to protect his
newly founded Qin dynasty against
incursions by nomads from Inner Asia.
Chinese 7 Dialects
1. Mandarin
2. Cantonese
3. Hakka
4. Wu
5. Min
6. Xiang
7. Gan
Religions and Beliefs
o Islam – 22 million
o Catholicism – 4 million
o Protestant – 10 million
o Atheist – doesn’t believe in God
o Confucianism – ethical teaching by
Confucius
o Buddhism – teaching attributed to
Buddha
o Taoism – avoid human desires,
opposite of Confucianism
Chinese Philosophy
Chinese attitudes and beliefs were
shaped by 3 religious and philosophical
schools:
o Taoism
o Confucianism
o Buddhism
Dynasty in China
 Shang Dynasty (1700-1050 BC)
o Development of Chinese
writing
o 1st dynasty
o Hieroglyphics writing on
bronze wares and oracle bones
– evolved into phonetic Chinese
characters
 Zhou Dynasty (1045-225 BC)
o Basic philosophical and
religious literature
o Oldest dynasty
o Major literary achievements
originated in late Spring and
Autumn period and Warring
State period
 Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
o Literary disaster and legalism
(philosophical school)
o Monism – big philosophical and
religious school
o Li Si – Qin emperor who
introduced a writing system and
developed into Modern Chinese
writing
 Han Dynasty (206-220 BC)
o Scientific and historical texts
o Siam Qian – wrote historical
records concerning the overall
history of China from Shang
dynasty to Han dynasty
o Cain Lun – 1st person in the
world to create writing paper.
 Tang Dynasty (618-907)
o Early woodblock printing and
poetry
o Dufu and Li Bai – China’s
greatest poets
o Li Bai – Romantic poet
o Dufu – Realist poet
 Song Dynasty (960-1279)
 o Early woodblock printing
o Travel literature, poetry,
scientific texts, and Neo-
Confucian classics
o 5 classics and 4 books – written
in classical language
o Shen Kuo and Su Song –
scientific treatises
o Shen Kuo – discovered
concepts of true north and
magnetic declination
o Su Song – hydralic-powered
astronomical clock tower
 Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)
o Drama and great fictional
novels
o Guan Hanquing – one of best
playwrights
o Mid-Summer Snow – one of
most popular drama pieces
o The Romance of the Three
Kingdoms and Water Margin –
2 of the 4 greatest novels in
Chinese literature
o The Romance of the Western
Chamber by Wang Shifu – one
of the best romantic dramas
 Min Dynasty (1368-1644)
Literary Context
o Novels
o Journey to West by Wu
Cheng’en – based on historical
journey of a Buddhist to India
 Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
o Novels and pre-modern
literature
o Manchus established last
dynasty
o The Dream of the Red Chamber
– last of China’s 4 great classic
novels
Chinese Literature (1000 B.C.- A.D.1890)
 The Major Literacy Heritage of the
worlds with an interrupted history of
more than 30,000 years dating back at
least to the 14th Century.
 Chinese Classical Literature (1644-
1911) – refers to the earliest period and
covers works from 3,000 years ago to
the late Qing dynasty, enduring
dynastic changes.
 Chinese Modern Literature – refers to
the period from the Opium War in 1840
to the may fourth movement in 1919.
o Opium War – war between two
wars in the mid 19th century
involving Anglo Chinese
dispute over the British.
 Contemporary Literature (1919-1949)
– spanned period from 1919 to the
foundation of modern in 1949 and took
on a new vigor.
 Present Age Literature (1949- present)
– evolved since the establishments of
the People’s Republic in 1949 during
this time. Logjam as consequence to
cultural resolution lasting 10 years.
 Poetry is a part of everyday life
throughout the history of China. Poets
have been among the most highly
regarded members of Chinese Society.
The main Chinese poetic form was the
Shih Ching (The Book of Songs).
Expressed in personal emotions.
 Contrast between Chinese and Western
philosophic thinking:
o Western – seek out being of
things, essential reality behind
appearances
o Chinese – establishment and
cultivation of harmonious
relationships within their social
structures
 Chinese educational philosophy –
focus on the notion of self-cultivation
in Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism,
Christianity, and Communism
o Daoism teaches people to be in
harmony with nature. Promotes
a holistic view of the world
from the universe.
 o Confucianism concerns human
relationship. Advocates idea of
upright moral person (junzi).
o Buddhism considers world as
non-eternal; learn to let go.
The Analects, also known as the Analects of
Confucius, is an ancient Chinese book
composed of a large collection of sayings
and ideas attributed to the Chinese
philosopher Confucius.
 Born in 551 BC in present-day China,
Confucius is one of the most influential
thinkers to have ever lived. The
Analects are a collection of his
thoughts and conversations on a range
of topics from leadership and education
to wisdom and love.