A s i a n

L i t e r a t u r e
 Asian Literature
• Refers to the body of literature produced in the
countries of Asia.

• Asia is known to be the most populous and the largest

continent in the world.
• Asia is a cradle of human race, world religion,
civilization, which is composed of wide spread variety
of ethnic groups, diverse cultures, environments,
economic, historical link cages, and various political
systems making it rich in written literature since it's
the biggest continent a wealth of written and spoken
text have been introduced
How Asian
Literature
Flourished?
• Asian literature, diverse in forms and themes, reveals
shared elements across the continent due to proximity,
trade, and historical experiences.
• Major contributions from Asian regions include
Indian epics like Mahabharata, Chinese poetry by Li
Bai and Du Fu, and Japanese classics like Murasaki
Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji."
• The medieval era saw the rise of Haiku and kabuki in
Japan, Ming and Qing dynasties' literary works in
China, and the influence of Arabic traditions on
Persian literature, seen in "One Thousand and One
Nights."
• In the 20th century, Asian literature responded to
social changes. Lu Xun and Rabindranath Tagore
addressed modern issues, while Yukio Mishima
explored existentialism in Japan.
• Contemporary Asian literature thrives with authors
like Arundhati Roy, Ha Jin, and Haruki Murakami,
showcasing diverse perspectives and maintaining the
rich cultural, intellectual, and historical tapestry of the
continent.
 Characteristics of Asian
Literature

Religiosity and Philosophical and

spirituality. contemplative art
 Themes of Asian Literature
• Greatly talks about race, injustice, power, nationalism,
struggles, love, and in all things all at all times, there are
morals to be learned.
Common Asian Literature Genre Styles

• Poetry or verse - lyrical

• Dramatic prose - such as collection of short stories
• Narrative or story - telling verses like epics
 ASIAN LITERATURE
East Asian Literature South Asian Literature

• Chinese literature • Indian Literature

• Japanese literature • Pakistani literature
• Korean literature • Bangladeshi folk literature
• Sri Lankan literature
 ASIAN LITERATURE
West Asian Literature Southeast Asian Literature

• Persian Literature • Thai Literature

• Arabic Literature • Philippine Literature
• Jewish Literature • Malaysian Literature
• Turkish Literature • Indonesian Literature
• Burmese Literature
• Vietnamese Literature
C h i n e s e
L i t e r a t u r e
 History of Chinese Literature
• This body of works is in Chinese. It has more than 50, 000
published works in a wide range of topics.
 History of Chinese Literature
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".
Boasts a rich literary tradition covering
fiction, philosophy, poetry, and
scientific writing.of works is in
Chinese. It has more than 50, 000
published works in a wide range of
topics.
 History of Chinese Literature
• 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.
 History of Chinese Literature
• The Han Dynasty which succeeded after the collapse of the
Chou strengthened the unity within the bureaucracy but
Confucianism was substituted for Legalism.
 History of Chinese Literature
• Confucianism and Taoism have significantly influenced
Chinese literature, emphasizing personal ethics and
harmony with the universe.
 History of Chinese Literature
• Confucianism, a dominant political philosophy, endured
through dynasties with classics like the Five Classics and
Four Books crucial for bureaucratic exams.
 History of Chinese Literature
The Five Classics The Four Books
• The Book of Odes • The Doctrine of the Mean
• The Book of Documents • The Great Learning
• The Book of Changes • The Mencius
• The Book of Rites • The Analects
• The Book of Spring and
Autumn Annals
 History of Chinese Literature
• Chinese literature, beyond classics, flourished in the Ming
and Qing Dynasties with vernacular fiction exploring
societal norms.
 Du Fu (712-770)
• Is considered as China's greatest poet. He
was known for his works of lüshi.
• A lüshi has eight lines, each of which has
five or seven syllables following a strict
tonal pattern.
• It became widely popular during the Tang
Dynasty (618-907 CE), the golden age of
art and literature in Chinese history.
Other Sample Works of
Du Fu:
• Alone, Looking for Blossoms
Along the River
• Ballad of the Army Carts
• Ballad of the Old Cypress
 Li Bai (701-762)
• Also called Li Po, rivaled Du Fu for the
title of China's greatest poet. Unlike Du Fu,
he wrote less formal verse forms. A famous
drinker, he frequently celebrated drinking
in his poetry.
• He wrote during the Tang Dynasty, and
while his work was far from serious, it
demonstrated the ability of the Chinese
language to be put to work to describe
beauty in the everyday aspects of life.
 Li Bai (701-762)
• Li Po wrote a great deal about the joys of
everyday life, especially being drunk, in a
way that was clear and accessible. For
example, his poem Waking from
Drunkenness on a Spring Day is essentially
about a hangover. Even in remembering the
deeds of a friend, Li found a way to
incorporate alcohol. In The Exile's Letter,
he writes of talking to intelligent men with
an old friend in a tavern.
 Li Bai (701-762)

• Still, not everything that Li wrote

about dealt with alcohol. In A Quiet
Night Thought, a shorter poem of
only a few lines, he longs for home,
with imagery about the moon and
frost on the ground.
Other Sample Works of
Li Bai:
• Exile's Letter
• Goodfellowship
• The Green Water
 Culture of Chinese
• Chinese culture, influenced by Confucianism, Taoism, and
Buddhism, emphasizes values like respect, filial piety, and social
harmony.
• Traditional Chinese arts, such as calligraphy and painting, reflect
a deep connection to nature. Cultural celebrations like Chinese
New Year underscore the importance of traditions.
 Culture of Chinese
• Chinese family, a vital societal element, emphasizes honoring
parents and ancestors. Tradition keeps multiple generations under
one roof, maintaining a rigid and hierarchical structure.
Challenges arise as young workers migrate to prosperous cities,
sending support to parents in smaller towns. At 30, pressure to
marry and return to hometowns conflicts with modern aspirations.
 Beliefs of Chinese
• Confucianism remains a cornerstone of Chinese ethical
philosophy, while Taoism encourages simplicity and alignment
with the natural order. Buddhism contributes to spiritual practices.
• Chinese folklore, including myths like Houyi and Chang'e or the
Monkey King, adds cultural richness, blending history and
imagination.
Ja p a n e s e
L i t e r a t u r e
 JAPANESE LITERATURE
Also known as "The Land of the Rising Sun".
The earliest writings from ancient Japan
are:

The Records of The Chronicles of

Ancient Matters in Japan or Nihongi
Kojiki (A.D. 712) (A.D. 720)
 KATAKANA
Basic alphabet in Japan which consists 47 characters.
 Three Types of
Japanese Drama.
 Noh Play
• It is the national theater of Japan.
• Noh theater is structured around song and dance. Movement is
slow, language is poetic, tone is monotonous, and costumes are
rich and heavy. Plots are usually drawn literature and from legend,
contemporary Themes often relate to history, events. dreams,
supernatural worlds, ghosts and spirits.
Noh Play
 The puppet play (doll theater)

• The puppets are beautifully

made and lifelike in size. The
strings are expertly
manipulated and the dialogue
realistically interpreted.
 Kabuki Play
• The play of the masses. It is less intellectual, more realistic, even
sensational. traditional Japanese popular drama with singing and
dancing performed in a highly stylized manner. A rich blend of
music, dance, mime, and spectacular staging and costuming, it has
been a major theatrical form in Japan for four centuries.
Kabuki Play
 Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
• Was born to the Kakinomoto clan,
based in Yamato Province) He was a
Japanese waka poet and aristocrat of
the late Asuka period. He is considered
one of the most important poets in
Japanese literary history. Hitomaro's
poems are known for their use of vivid
imagery and their expression of deep
emotion.
 Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
• Hitomaro's works were included in
Man'yōshū, the oldest anthology of
Japanese poetry which was produced
during the Nara Period (710-784)
• Japan's first literary figure, was known
for his works of tanka and chōka.
 Chōka
• It is much longer than tanka, it has an irregular structure,
while tanka have a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern.
• Chōka often express complex or nuanced emotions, while
tanka often express simple or direct emotions.
Example of Chōka poem by
Kakinomoto Hitomaro:
"As the sun sinks low,
The mountains grow dark,
The birds fall silent,
And the world is still.

I am alone,
And my heart is heavy with sadness.
I long for my home,
And for the ones I love."
Example of Tanka by Kakinomoto
Hitomaro:
"The white plums bloom,
Their fragrance fills the air,
Spring has come again.
My heart is filled with joy,
As I wander through the fields."
 Other Sample Works Of
Kakinomoto No Hitomaro

• On the Mount of Kamo

• As Autumn Mountains
• On the Death of His Wife (II)
 Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694)
• Matsuo Bashō (was born in 1644, near
Ueno, in Iga Province) He was a rockstar
of Japanese poetry. He's best known for
his haiku, he was regarded as a the
supreme haiku poet emerged from the
early Tokugawa period (1603-1770);
short poems that capture fleeting
moments in nature. He took the existing
hokku and transformed it into haiku, a
standalone art form.
 Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694)

• Basho's verses appear with his travel

accounts like The Narrow Road to
the Deep North (1694). Is the most
famous haiku collection in Japan.
 Haiku

• Haiku is short with 17 syllables that consist of three lines, 5/7/5

pattern. It has cutting word or kireji "/" which creates a pause or
shift in the poem. It also uses simple language like everyday
words, but used with precision.
Example of Haiku poem by
Matsuo Bashō :
“Furu ike ya / kawazu tobikomu /
mizu no oto"

translation:
"Old pond / A frog jumps in / The
sound of water."
 Renga
• Renga/Rengku is longer than haiku. Hokku is the
starting point of it which sets the tone and theme. Each
stanza must follow a set pattern and must be connected
to the previous stanza in some way.
• Renga is a more collaborative form of poetry that
requires a group of poets to work together to create a
cohesive whole.
Example of Renga poem by
Matsuo Bashō :
" Aki kaze no / yarido no kuchi ya /
togari-goe"

translation:
" The autumn wind blows /
Through the withered fields of Edo
/ I hear the crow's cry."
 Other Sample Works of
Matsuo Bashō:

• The Old Pond

• A Snowy Morning
• A Bee
A Brief History Of
Japanese Literature
 Ancient (Until 794)
• Japanese do not have their own writing system.
Chinese characters were further adopted.
• The earliest works created in the Nara Period:
Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Man'yōshū
 Classical (794 - 1185)
• Generally refers to literature produced during the
HEIAN PERIOD (The golden era of art and
literature)
 Medieval (1185 - 1603)
• Works in this era are notable for their insights
into life and death, simple lifestyles, and
redemption through killing.
 Medieval (1185 - 1603)
Other important Tales:
• The Tale of the Heike (1371)
• Kamo no Chōmei's Hōjōki (1212)
• Yoshida Kenkō's Tsurezuregusa (1331)
Other notable Genres:
• Renga (Linked Verse)
• Noh (Theater)
 Modern (1603 - 1945)
Early Modern Literature (1603 - 1868)
Known authors include:
• Chikamatsu Monzaemon
• Matsuo Bashō
• Hokusai
• Jippensha Ikku
 Modern (1603 - 1945)
Modern Literature (1868 - 1945)
Known authors include:
• Shiga Naoya • Kyōka Izumi
• Mori Ōgai • Ichiyo Higuchi
• Ryūnosuke Akutagawa • Natsume Sōseki
• Ozaki Kōyō
 Beliefs
• Shintonism is a traditional religion in Japanese that has been practiced
for centuries.
• It is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and has had significant impact
on the way japanese people view the world.
• The word shinto means "the way of the gods" or "the way of the
divine".
• Shintoism is Japan's indigenous spirituality. It is believed that every
living thing in nature (e.g. trees, rocks, flowers, animals - even sounds)
contains kami, or gods.
 Shintoism vs Buddhism
• Shintoism and Buddhism coexist in Japan, with Shinto focusing on
worldly matters like birth and marriage, while Buddhism addresses the
soul and the afterlife. Shinto became distinct when Buddhism arrived
in the sixth century, primarily manifesting in Nara and evolving into
sects like Zen Buddhism. Japanese seamlessly integrate both religions,
turning to Shinto for celebrations and Buddhism for funerals
 Culture
• Japanese culture values social harmony and hard work, evolving
uniquely with influences from Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and
limited resources. The rise of samurai and Edo Period isolation
reshaped societal norms. Despite recent Westernization, preserving
cultural heritage remains crucial through practices like the tea
ceremony, wearing kimono, and studying traditional arts. Modesty and
humility are ingrained, evident in the meaningful gesture of bowing,
where a longer bow with a higher angle signifies greater respect.
 In d i a n
L i t e r a t u r e
 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".
 General characteristics of Indian
literature are:
• Religion. • Bravery.
• Deeds. • Love.
• Human Values. • Morality.
• Obedience. • Poetic Form.
Indian Literature
• Sanskrit- literature of
India. The word
"sanskrit" means
cultivated or perfected.
Indian Literature

• Vedas- The bible of the

Indians
 Ramayana and Mahabharata are the
most important epics of India.

• has been part of indias oral tradition for centuries

• written down in more or less figs formed during the
classical period.
The Ancient Indian
Epics
Ramayana
• The Ramayana is another Indian epic
in Sanskrit. The sage Valmiki was
traditionally regarded as its author. It
is shorter than Mahabharata, with
some 24 000 couplets.
• It is about the reincarnation of the
creator god Vishnu in the person of
Rama, who is the hero of the epic.
 Who is the Author?
• The Ramayana was composed in Sanskrit, probably not
before 300 bce, by the poet Valmiki and in its present form
consists of some 24,000 couplets divided into seven books.
 History of The Ramayana
• The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic, composed some time in the
5th century BCE, about the exile and then return of Rama, prince of
Ayodhya. It was composed in Sanskrit by the sage Valmiki, who taught
it to Rama's sons, the twins Lava and Kush. At about 24000 verses, it is
a rather long poem and, by tradition, is known as the Adi Kavya (adi =
original, first; kavya = poem). While the basic story is about palace
politics and battles with demon tribes, the narrative is interspersed with
philosophy, ethics, and notes on duty.
Mahabharata
• The Mahabharata is an Indian epic
written in Sanskrit. It is the longest
poem in history with about 100 000
couplets. It is traditionally ascribed to an
Indian sage named Vyasa. The Hindus
regard the epic as both a text about
dharma (the Hindu moral law) and a
history. Bhagavadgītā, the most
celebrated of its episodes, gives spiritual
guidance.
Mahabharata

• Mahabharata deals with the other

reincarnation of Vishnu in the
person of Krishna. It is considered
as the greatest epic of India.
 Who is the Author?
• Ved Vyasa conceived of Mahabharata, but it was Ganesha
who wrote the entire epic. We can trace the origin of the
Ganesha Writes the Mahabharata Story to Adi Parva, or the
Book of the Beginning. It is the first of the 18 books of the
Mahabharata.
 History of Mahabharata
• The Mahabharata is an important source of information on the
development of Hinduism between 400 BCE and 200 CE and is
regarded by Hindus as both a text about dharma (Hindu moral law) and
a history (itihasa, literally “that’s what happened”). Appearing in its
present form about 400 CE, the Mahabharata consists of a mass of
mythological and didactic material arranged around a central heroic
narrative that tells of the struggle for sovereignty between two groups
of cousins, the Kauravas (sons of Dhritarashtra, the descendant of
Kuru) and the Pandavas (sons of Pandu).
The Panchatantra
• Is a collection of folktales and fables
that were believed to have been
originally written in Sanskrit by Vishnu
Sharma more than 2500 years ago. This
collection of stories features animal
characters which are stereotyped to
associate certain qualities with them.
 History of Indian Literature

• The production of Sanskrit literature extended from about 1500 BCE to

about 1000 CE and reached its height of development in the 1st to 7th
centuries CE. In addition to sacred and philosophical writings, such
genres as erotic and devotional lyrics, court poetry, plays, and narrative
folktales emerged.
 Beliefs
• Hinduism, India's predominant religion, encompasses diverse beliefs
and traditions. It deeply influences daily life through festivals, art,
temples, and revered narratives like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Gods' images adorn public and private spaces, with Ganesh being
particularly popular for removing obstacles.
 Reincarnation and Karma
(Beliefs)
• They believe that one's actions in the present life, known as karma,
determine their future lives.
• Reincarnation is the process of a soul being reborn again and again in
new physical forms. Indian have a cyclical view of the universe and of
the process a soul goes through to achieve the ultimate goal of moksha,
or liberation from earthly things.
 Dharma (Beliefs)
• It emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's moral and
social responsibilities in order to lead a righteous life.
 Culture
• Indian culture is a blend of traditional customs, British influences, and
global elements, characterized by unity and diversity in languages,
cultures, and religions.
• It encompasses social norms, ethical values, traditions, belief systems,
political structures, artifacts, and technologies rooted in the diverse
Indian subcontinent.
• Considered the oldest culture globally, Indian culture remains vibrant
despite challenges, with enduring concepts from antiquity, such as Lord
Krishna's teachings, Mahavira, and Buddha's wisdom, shaping
contemporary values.
 Culture
• India's vastness brings forth diverse languages, religions, rituals, food
preferences, clothing styles, dance forms, and music across states,
fostering a rich tapestry appreciated by all Indians.