Asian literature

1. ASIAN LITERATURE
By: Irine Bonane

2. LET’S GUESS IT

5. ASIAN LITERATURE
Refers to
the people
of:
China India
Japan

6. CHINA
• 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”.

7. CHOU DYNASTY
• 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. It is the longest dynasty in
Chinese history which lasted from 1122
B.C. To 256 B.C.

8. HAN DYNASTY
• The Han Dynasty which succeeded
after the collapse of the Chou
strengthened the unity within the
bureaucracy, but Confucianism was
substituted for Legalism.

9. THE FIVE CLASSICS
• The book of Changes
• The book of History
• The book of Rites
• The book of Odes
• The Spring and Autumn Annals

10. CONFUCIUS
• Confucius- perhaps the greatest
philosopher of the world has known.
One of the truly great men that China
has produced. The word Confucius
is the westernized form of his name,
which is Kung Fu-tze, Kung being his
proper name, Fu signifying revered,
and tze signifying teacher.

11. LI PO
• Li Po (701 – 761), or Li tai Po, was one of
the leading Chinese poets of the eighth
century. His writings deal with the good
things of life and with the pathos of human
destiny. With a striking vividness they treat
of love, friendship, wine, nature, and simple
village living.

12. PO-CHU-I
• Po – Chu – I (722 – 846) was a well-known
Chinese poet who represented the classical
tradition in Chinese literature, politics and
morality.

13. 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”.

14. • The first characteristic we notice
about Indian literature is that it is
based on piety, a deeply
religious spirit.

15. DRAVIDIANS
Dravidians- earliest people in India dating back to 3000 – 2500 B.C. Towards 2000 B.C.

16. SANSKRIT AND VEDAS
• Sanskrit- literature of India.
The word “sanskrit” means
cultivated or perfected.
• Vedas – the bible of the
Indians.

17. RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA
• Ramayana and Mahabharata are the
most important epics of India.
Ramayana – is about the reincarnation
of the creator god Vishnu in the person
of Rama, who is the hero of the epic.
• Mahabharata – deals with the other
reincarnation of Vishnu in the person of
Krishna. It is considered as the greatest
epic of India.

18. • The Indians believe in reincarnation. The reincarnation of
Vishnu are called Avatars, descending from the god.

19. ROOTS OF INDIAN
LITERATURE
• Rig-Veda – made up of hymns in praise of
the gods. The hymns are strong, energetic
religions expressions comparable to the
Old Testament Psalms.

20. INDIAN DRAMA
The first great name in Indian drama is
Bhasa. (13 plays are attributed to him.)

21. KALIDASA
• Kalidasa – the greatest writer of
plays. He is the author of Shakuntala.
- he is called the brightest of the “nine
gems of genius”.

22. JAPANESE LITERATURE
• Also known as “The Land of the Rising
Sun”. The earliest writings from ancient
Japan are: 1. The Records of Ancient
Matters in Kojiko (A.D. 712) 2. The
Chronicles of Japan or Nihongi (A.D.
720)

23. KATANAKA
Basic alphabet in Japan

24. EARLIEST JAPANESE LITERARY WORKS:
1. Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters)
2. Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan)

25. JAPANESE DRAMA
• Drama- different form of amusement
1. Noh play
2. Joruri or puppet play
3. Kabuki play

29. JAPANESE POETRY
• Manyo Shu (Collection of myriad
leaves) – oldest collection of
poetry. It was compiled in 800
A.D. The collection titled One
Hundred Persons was compiled
much later.

30. HAIKU
• Shortest form of Japanese poetry but most popular. It has seventeen-
syllable poem in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables.
• Example:
Poetry and love
will fill your heart forever,
or rip it to shreds!

32. TASK :
CREATE YOUR OWN HAIKU