21

st

century
Chinese
Literature
INTRODUCTION
OF CHINESE
LITERATURE
Chinese literature is 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.
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.
China possesses one of the world's major literary traditions. Its texts have been
preserved for over 3,000 years.

The principal genre of Chinese literature is poetry; early folk songs established
the shi (shih) form that crystallized during the Han dynasty and dominated for the
next 1,200 years.

The short story, which began to develop during the Tang dynasty, at first
emphasized either historical events or supernatural happenings which could not
be related in a formal historical work.

Drama, one of China's least well-developed genres, had its origins also in popular
entertainment. The high point of elite drama was during the Yuan dynasty, when
intellectuals dispossessed by the Mongol invaders turned to the composition of
drama both to productively employ their taste and erudition and also to covertly
criticize the foreign government. During the following centuries, dramas tended to
become longer, and the opera dominated. Spoken drama was not generally
conspicuous until the 20th century.
 FAMOUS
WRITERS OF
21 CENTURY
ST

CHINESE
LITERATURE
GE FEI
Ge Fei is considered one
of the first and most
influential avant-garde
writers of China.
(NOVELLAS)
Jiangnan Trilogy
The Invisibility Cloak
 BI FEIYU
Bi Feiyu started writing
novels in the 1980s, and
his oeuvre already
includes several short
stories, novellas, and
novels. The novels The
Moon Opera and Three
Sisters is considered to
be amongst his most
representative work.
YANG HONGYING
Yang Hongying is one of
present-day China’s most
influential writers of
children’s literature, and
has written more than 80
fairy tales, children’s novels
and essays in the course of
her more than 30 year long
career. Her popularity in
China has given her the
nickname “China’s J.K.
Rowling”.
 DONG XI
Dong Xi has published
several novels, some of
which have been
translated into English,
such as Help, Our Father
and Life Without
Language, for which he
was awarded the First Lu
Xun Literary Prize in 1998.
Several pieces of his work
has been adapted to
movies and TV plays.
SHORT STORY OF CHINA
 A LITTLE
INCIDENT
by. Lu Xun
 LU XUN
Lu Xun (Lu Hsun) was the
pen name of Zhou Shuren.
Lu is widely regarded as
one of modern China’s
most prominent and
influential writers. His
work promoted radical
change through criticism
of antiquated cultural
values and repressive
social customs.
 Literary
Elements
 SUMMARY
The story took place in a little town one breezy day. The
characters include the "I" (the one who narrated the story),
the rickshaw puller, the old woman and the police officer.
The "I" in the story was the one who narrated the events in
chronological order. He was the one who experienced the
internal conflict. He was insensitive and inconsiderate for
the feelings of the old woman. Even if he saw the incident
that dragged the old woman on all fours, he showed her no
mercy. Instead, he ordered the rickshaw puller to continue
what they were doing. He is both the protagonist and the
antagonist in the story since he experienced internal
conflict after the incident..
 SUMMARY
The rickshaw puller, however, was the one who
showed care and concern for the old woman. He
showed sympathy and was able to help the woman
made her way to safety. He showed concern even if his
mere act would mean disobedience to "I", his master in
the story. The old woman was the one dragged by the
rickshaw. He stumbled on all fours and had her
clothes torn. Just like the old woman, the police played
only a minor role in the story. Quite insignificant, he
just approached "I" in the end of the story
 SUMMARY
The story was told in first person major point of view. The
"I" isn't yet clear if it refers to the author or not but it
somehow used the pronoun "I" as someone who narrated
the story. Lu Xun's masterpiece was of depressing general
mood. The main character realized the mistake he had
done. The old woman felt the ungrace of the "I". The
incident also hurt her and to think about it, she's old. She's
probably weak by the years that had gone by. The story also
holds much symbolism. One of these is the breeze. At the
start of the story, the breeze was strongly gushing. Butt at
the end of the story, when the main character realized a
lesson from the incident, the breeze finally ceased..
 SUMMARY
The breeze signifies the coldness of heart of the main
character. When he came up with his realization after
the incident, he was moved by the act of kindness of
the rickshaw puller. He knew deep inside there lies a
man like that of the rickshaw puller -kind and tender-
hearted but just slept because of the ungraces he faced
throughout the years of political and social matters
governing their locale.
 SUMMARY
The "I" himself is a symbol. He is somewhat referred to
as someone who holds a high position, a general or
government official perhaps. He symbolizes
supremacy in the society. He reflects those who are
above the social pyramid where masses are placed
down under. Also, in countries like China, that time,
men are considered superior to women. The "I" could
have been the epitome of power and position for the
story. The rickshaw puller signifies the masses who are
working hard. As we can observe, he works for the "I'.
 SUMMARY
We can draw the conclusion that even if the elite had the
riches, they still need the manpower of the masses to
make their visions real. They need the poor to move for
them for without these people below, no one will do the
move for them. They just kept orders but the one who
makes the social routine alive are those who live below
their class. The old woman however, symbolized those
who are helplessly oppressed. Even if they want to stand
and move ahead of their lives, they just couldn't because
they lack the capacity to do so. They hunger for grace
that only those who are also poor can give.
 PLOT
INTRODUCTION: The story took place in a little town
one breezy day. Even if he saw the incident that dragged
the old woman on all fours, he showed her no mercy.
Instead, he ordered the rickshaw puller to continue what
they were doing. He is both the protagonist and the
antagonist in the story since he experienced internal
conflict after the incident. The rickshaw puller, however,
was the one who showed care and concern for the old
woman. He showed sympathy and was able to help the
woman made her way to safety. He showed concern even if
his mere act would mean disobedience to his master in
the story. He think of it and introspect with pain and
effort.
RISING ACTION:It was a winter day in the sixth year
of the Republic, and a strong Northernly wind blew
furiously. To make a living, Lu Shun had to be up early,
and on the way to his duties Lu Shun encountered
scarcely anyone. After much difficulty, Lu Shun finally
succeeded in hiring a rickshaw. He told the puller to
take to him to the South Gate. After a while, the wind
moderated its fury, and in its wake the streets were left
clean of the loose dust.
CLIMAX:The moment the puller ran quickly
approach the South Gate, somebody ran in front of
them, got entangled in the rickshaw, and tumbled to
the ground. It was a woman with streaks of white in
her hair, and she wore ragged clothes. She had darted
suddenly from the side of the street, and directly
crossed in front of us. The puller tried to swerve aside,
but her tattered jacket, unbuttoned and fluttering in
the wind, caught in the shafts.
FALLING ACTION:The wind had ceased entirely, but
the street was still quiet. When he was walking shame
and afraid himself for being rude for them. Leaving
aside what had happened before, he sought an
explanation for a fistful of coppers. Why he gave them
a reward? He only think is himself after his conduct,
he fit to pass judgment upon the rickshaw puller? He
couldn't even answer he's own conscience.
DENOUMENT/RESOLUTION: The “I” comparing
the memories he has and emphasizing the effects of
the incident to himself.
 CHARACTERS

THE NARRATOR/THE “I”

-the one who hired the rickshaw puller
-the protagonist and antagonist of the story
-falls under round/dynamic.
 CHARACTERS
RICKSHAW PULLER
-the one who helped the
old woman
-kind and tender-hearted
-the cause of the
realization of “I”
-falls under static/flat
 CHARACTERS
OLD WOMAN
-the one who got
entangled in the rickshaw.

POLICEMAN
 SETTING
The story happened in China; where social
classification was apparent.
 POINT OF VIEW
FIRST PERSON- POINT OF VIEW(the
narrator perspective, his relating the
events he or she is personally
experiencing.
 CONFLICT
Character vs. Society
It seems that the “I” becomes
weary in the events happening
in the society, and thus
become insensitive. As we all
know, our society has
profound influence in each
individuals, it may influence as
in positive and negative ways,
though.
The narrator’s insensitivity is a
symbol of protest, of him,
against the society
 CONFLICT
Character vs.
Character
The clash of two contrasting
personalities of the “I” and
the puller are evidently seen
in this story; the “I” is cold-
hearted, insensitive and
inconsiderate, while the
rickshaw man, is a total
opposite of “I”, is kind-
hearted, considerate and
sensible, respectively
 CONFLICT
Character vs.
Self(INTERNAL
CONFLICT) The “I” is
the one who suffered
internal conflict in the
story; he is insensitive,
inconsiderate and cold-
hearted.
 THEME

Man is good in-nature; and man is us. No matter how

cruel or rude a man appears to be, there is still
goodness lies in him, that only needs a “bang” to wake-
up.
 EPIPHANY
After the incident, “ I think back to the situation and
to himself.”
I or the narrator said that the incident still burns in his
memory and as he tries to remember it. It purges him
with shame, yet impels him to a better person and
invigorates hope and courage.
 SYMBOLISM
1.BREEZE- at the start
of the story,the breeze
was strongly gushing.But
at the end of the
story,when the main
character realized a
lesson from the incident,
the breeze finally ceased.
-it signifies the
coldness of heart of the
main character.
 SYMBOLISM
2. “I” ,himself- he is somewhat referred to as
someone who holds a high position, a general or
government official perhaps.
-he symbolizes supremacy in the society. He
reflects those who are above the social pyramid where
masses are placed down under. Also, in countries like
China, that time, men are considered superior to
women. The "I" could have been the epitome of power
and position for the story.
 SYMBOLISM
3.THE RICKSHAW PULLER- signifies the masses
who are working hard. As we can observe, he works for
the "I'. We can draw the conclusion that even if the
elite had the riches, they still need the manpower of
the masses to make their visions real. They need the
poor to move for them for without these people below,
no one will do the move for them. They just kept
orders but the one who makes the social routine alive
are those who live below their class.
 SYMBOLISM
4.THE OLD WOMAN -however, symbolized
those who are helplessly oppressed. Even if they want
to stand and move ahead of their lives, they just
couldn't because they lack the capacity to do so. They
hunger for grace that only those who are also poor can
give.
 FLASHBACK
The “ I” started to narrate the story with the
use of flashback.
 DICTION
FORMALISM/FORMAL
This story fall under formalism because for
a reader to fully understand a particular
literature he/she must observe its forms,
and how these forms woven together to
create a wonderful story.
MAN IS GOOD
NATURE,IT IS JUST
A MATTER OF
WAKING UP.