Power Point on Chinese Literature

1. CHINESE
LITERATURE
Created by: Angie Anders
Presented to: Mr. Daryl Gates
World Literature
Southern University of Shreveport

2. INTRODUCTION
To many Westerners, Chinese literature remains
a hidden seam in the rich strata of Chinese
culture. As a matter of fact, it is a treasure of a
very considerable number of brilliant and
profound works as each dynasty, in the long
history of China, has passed down its legacy of
magnificent events and works.

3. Historical Treasure
For 3500 years, the Chinese have woven a variety of genres and
forms encompassing poetry, essays, fiction and drama; each in
its own way reflecting the social climate of its day through the
high spirit of art.
Chinese literature has its own values and tastes, its own
reigning cultural tradition and its own critical system of theory.

4. Famous Works
Tao Te Ching
The Art of War
Tang Poems
The Analects
Doctrine of the Mean
The Great Learning
Classic of Filial Piety

5. Tao Te Ching ~ Lao-tzu
“Always without desire we
must be found,
If its deep mystery we would
sound;
But if desire always within us
be,
Its outer fringe is all that we
shall see.” ~ Tao Te Ching

6. Art of War ~ Sun Tzu
“Now, when your
weapons are dulled, your
ardor damped, your
strength exhausted and
your treasure spent,
other chieftains will
spring up to take
advantage of your
extremity. Then no man,
however wise, will be
able to avert the
consequences that must
ensue.”

7. Tang Poems
“How beautiful she looks,
opening the pearly casement,
And how quiet she leans,
and how troubled her brow is!
You may see the tears now,
bright on her cheek,
But not the man she
so bitterly loves.”
Li Bai, A Bitter Love

8. The Analects
~Confucius
Section 3 Part 12…
Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The
Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to
propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one
day subdue himself and return to propriety, an
under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him.
Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man
himself, or is it from others?"
Yen Yuan said, "I beg to ask the steps of that
process." The Master replied, "Look not at
what is contrary to propriety; listen not to
what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is
contrary to propriety; make no movement
which is contrary to propriety." Yen Yuan then
said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and
vigor, I will make it my business to practice this
lesson."

9. The Doctrine of the Mean ~ Confucius
“While there are no stirrings of
pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy,
the mind may be said to be in
the state of Equilibrium. When
those feelings have been stirred,
and they act in their due degree,
there ensues what may be called
the state of Harmony. This
Equilibrium is the great root
from which grow all the human
actings in the world, and this
Harmony is the universal path
which they all should pursue.”

10. The Great Learning ~ Confucius
“Things being investigated, knowledge became complete.
Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere.
Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified.
Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.
Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated.
Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed.
Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made
tranquil and happy.”

11. I Ching, The Book of Changes
This famous system
of 64 hexagrams
plus their
commentaries
and
trans-for-mations
is at the root of
Chinese thought.
~ Tr. Wilhelm(en, fr).

12. Reading Chinese Literature
The main disadvantage of written Chinese is the great number of
characters it contains: Even basic reading and writing require a
knowledge of more than 1,000 characters. This has often made it difficult
to spread the skills of reading and writing into certain areas of the
country. But even with this disadvantage, Chinese has been a potent
factor in shaping and maintaining a cultural continuity for millions of
people.

13. The Splendor of Chinese Literature
Chinese literature can be used as an
escape into a beautiful world and time, a
guide to virtuous living, and a historical
map through images and philosophy.

14. References
Compton's Living Encyclopedia (2005) Chinese Literature. Retrieved from
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/chinlit.html
Rick Harbaugh (2010) Chinese Classical Literature. Retrieved from http://zhongwen.com/gudian.htm
Lao-tzu (1891) Tao Te Ching, translated by J. Legge, Retrieved from http://www.sacredtexts.com/tao/taote.htm
Li Bai, A Bitter Love, Tangshi VII. 1. (234), Retrieved from
http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.php?l=Tangshi&no=234
Confucius, The Analects, (500 B.C.E.) Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.3.3.html
Confucius, The Doctrine of the Mean (500 B.C.E) Retrieved from
http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/doctmean.html
Confucius, The Great Learning, (500 B.C.E.) Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/learning.html
Yi Jing, I Ching, the Book of Changes, Retrieved from
http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&no=6