The 7

continents of
1.
2.
the
North
Europe
world
America 6. antarctica
7. south
3. Asia america
4. Australia
5. Africa
Asia-is the
largest continent
the world by both
land area and
population
Literature in the Eastern
hemisphere prospered and
mirrored the developments in
religion., war, and politics.
Representative
texts and
authors from
asia
EAST ASIAN
LITERATURE
 East Asian Literature
Refers to the study of literature of the people in:
China
Japan
Korea
 China
Chinese civilization is the oldest civilizations
in the world that dates back to the Shang
Dynasty in 1765 B.C.
China is known as “The Red Dragon”.

China is known as the Red Dragon because of the dragon's

symbolic meaning in Chinese culture and the traditional
association of red with the Chinese emperor:
Dragon symbolism
The dragon is a central symbol in Chinese culture, representing
power, success, and good fortune. It's also a symbol of the Chinese
people as a whole and the essence of Chinese civilization
 Zhou Dynasty that followed by the Shang Dynasty was
the 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
Confucius
Perhaps the greatest philosopher of the
world has known.
The word “Confucius” is the westernized
form of name Kung Fu-tze.
Kung – Confucius’ proper name
Fu – revered
Tze – teacher
Books:
1. The Analects of Confucius
2. The Wisdom of Confucius
 The finest era of Chinese literature was the
Tang Dynasty (618-907), when known poets
created landmark works unrivalled elsewhere in
the world.
 Literature in China

Famous Poets in Tang Dynasty

Tu Fu
He is known as a poet-
historian for his portrayal of the
social and political disorders of his
time and is also noted for his
artistry and craftsmanship.
His works as a poet reveal his
loyalty and love of the country, his
aspirations and frustrations, his
unbounded sympathy for the sad
plight of the common people.
 Literature in China

Famous Poets in Tang Dynasty

Li Po
Or Li tai Po, was one of
the leading Chinese poets of
the 8th century. His writings
deal with the good things of
life with the pathos of human
destiny, love, friendship,
wine, nature, and simple
village living.
 Literature in China

Famous Poets in Tang Dynasty

Wang Wei
He excelled in imagery,
and his poems often hold a
subtle metaphysical flavor
testifying to his long study of
Buddhism. Many of his works
are such perfectly crystallized
visual images that they became
favored subjects of later artists.
 Literature in China

In modern times, Chinese writers have

remained prolific. Though the social impact of
literature may be as monumental as it was in the
past, the Chinese literary tradition is
nevertheless prosperous.

Notable writers:

Mo Yan
One of his famous works:
“Sandalwood Death”
 Literature in China

In modern times, Chinese writers have

remained prolific. Though the social impact of
literature may be as monumental as it was in the
past, the Chinese literary tradition is
nevertheless prosperous.

Notable writers:

Yu Hua
One of his famous works:
“ To Live”
 Most Essential Text for Reading
Thunder Storm (drama) Cao Yu
Family (Novel) Pao Jin
Please don’t Call Me Human ( novel)
Wang Shu
Strange Tales from a Chines Studio
(Short Story)
Pu Songling
On A gate Tower at Yangzhou (poetry)
Zhang Chenzhi
Battle (poem) Chu’u Yuan
 Literature in China

In modern times, Chinese writers have

remained prolific. Though the social impact of
literature may be as monumental as it was in the
past, the Chinese literary tradition is
nevertheless prosperous.

Notable writers:

Wang Shuo
One of his famous works:
“Please Don’t Call Me Human”
 Literature in China

In modern times, Chinese writers have

remained prolific. Though the social impact of
literature may be as monumental as it was in the
past, the Chinese literary tradition is
nevertheless prosperous.

Notable writers:

Shi Tiesheng
One of his famous works:
“ The Journey of Thought”
 Literature in China

And other remarkable Chinese stories by:

Gao Xiaosheng
 Literature in China

And other remarkable Chinese stories by:

Wang Zengqi

Loneliness and Warmth

 Literature in China

And other remarkable Chinese stories by:

Zhang Chengzhi

The River in the North

 Japan
Known as the “Land of the Rising Sun.
 Japanese Literature

Katakana – basic alphabet in Japan which

consists of 47 characters.
 Literature in Japan

The earliest writings

from ancient Japan are:
 The Records of Ancient
Matters in Kojiki (A.D.
712)
 The Chronicles of Japan
or Nihongi (A.D. 720)
 Literature in Japan

Japanese Drama

3 Types:
Noh
Bunraku
Kabuki
Noh: A spiritual drama that is accompanied by
kyōgen, a comic performance
Kabuki: A theatrical tradition that combines
dance, music, and highly stylized dialogue with
lively action
Bunraku: A high-intensity puppet theater
 Literature in Japan

Noh Play
It is the national theater of Japan.
The oldest surviving form of Japanese
theater. It combines music, dance, and
acting to communicate Buddhist themes.
 Literature in Japan

Bunraku/ Joruri Play

Also known as the “Doll Theater” or the
puppet play.
The puppets are beautifully made and
lifelike in size. The strings are expertly
manipulated and the dialogue are realistically
interpreted.
 Literature in Japan

Kabuki Play
The play of the masses.
It is less intellectual, more realistic and
sensational.
 Literature in Japan

Japanese Poetry

Man Shu (Collection

of Myriad Leaves)
The oldest
collection of poetry
compiled in 800 A.D.
 Literature in Japan

Japanese Poetry

The collection of
One Hundred Persons
was compiled much
later.
 Literature in Japan

Japanese Poetry

Haiku
Shortest form of
Japanese poetry but most
popular.
It has 3 lines with 5-
7-5 syllables.
 Literature in Japan

Japanese Poetry

Tanka
A 5-line poem with
5-7-5-7-7 syllables.
 Literature in Japan
Ever since the Meiji Restoration in the 19th
century, Western influences have penetrated
Japanese literature.
In the genre of drama, playwrights who became
notable for creating world-renowned works like:
Abe Kobo

Woman in the Dunes

 Literature in Japan

Ever since the Meiji Restoration in the 19th

century, Western influences have penetrated
Japanese literature.
In the genre of drama, playwrights who became
notable for creating world-renowned works like:
Mishima Yukio

“Two Plays” by Yukio

 Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, art name Chōkōdō Shujin, was
a Japanese writer active in the Taishō period in Japan. He is
regarded as the "father of the Japanese short story", and
Japan's premier literary award, the Akutagawa Prize, is named
after him. He took his own life at the age of 35 through an
overdose of barbita
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer.
His novels, essays, and short stories
have been best-sellers in Japan and
internationally, with his work translated
into 50 languages and having sold
millions of copies outside Japan
 Korea
Known as the “Land of the Morning Calm”
in South Korea, while “The Hermit
Kingdom” in North Korea.
  Korea was established in 918 by King Taejo of Goryeo
dynasty.
 The name “Corea” was attested in English in early 1614
and the name “Korea” was used in the 19th century until
today.
 The English name Korea derives from the word Goryeo.
  Korean is the official language of both North and South
Korea.
 Korean has borrowed much vocabulary from the Chinese.
 Korean alphabets are called as Hangul in South Korea and
Chosungul in China and North Korea.
Korean Literature

Early Korean literature was

heavily influenced by Shamanism,
Buddhism and Confucianism.

Began as an oral tradition.

Korean Literature
 Good was rewarded
 Evil was punished
 Loyalty to the King
 Respect for one’s elders
 True friendship
 etc.
…were emphasized.
Korean Literature

Korean writings were poems called

hyangga.
Korean Literature
A new form of poem
developed after the Goryeo
dynasty and was called as shijo
which is a 3-line poem with 14
to 16 syllables each.
Korean Literature

Modern Korean literature

gradually developed under the
influence of Western cultural
contacts based on trade and
economic development.
Korean Literature
The first printed work of
fiction in Korean was John
Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress
(Cheonno-yeokjeong in Korean).
Christianity found its way
into Korea, having the first
complete edition of Bible in
Korean published in 1910.
Korean Literature
The Korean war, which
led to the creation of North and South
Korea, has created an indelible mark on
Korean literature.
Themes of
alienation, conscience,
and disintegration have
been present in Korean
works since 1950s.
Korean Literature
The Korean war, which
led to the creation of North and South
Korea, has created an indelible mark on
Korean literature.
Self-identity has also
become a strong theme in
Korean literature such as
poems, novels, plays.
Representative
Authors from
Korea
CH’OE NAM-SEON- a prominent
historian, pioneering poet, and
publisher in Korean literature. One
of his works is the poem “ The
Ocean of the Youth.
Yi Kwang-su
He was one who launched the modern
literary movement together with Ch’oe
Nam –Seon. He was a novelist and
wrote the first Korean novel “The
Heartless” and became well-known
because of it.
Kim Ok
He was a Korean poet included in the
early modernism movement of Korean
Poetry. He wrote the first Korean
collection of translation from Western
poetry “The Dance of Agony”.
Yun Hunggil
He was South Korean novelist who won
the 1977 Korean Literature Writers
Award. He wrote the classic novel
“Changma” (The rainy Spell)
Pak Kyongni
She was a South Korean poet and
novelist, She wrote the Korean’s
masterpiece and internationally
acclaimed 21-volume epic novel T’oji
(“The Land”). Wherein che chronicled
the violent Korean History.
 References:
Redoblado. (2017). Contemporary Literature: 21st Century Literature from
the Philippines and the World. Brilliant Creation Publishing, Inc.

https://www.slideshare.net/kazumaki/asian-literature

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/wang-wei

https://www.slideshare.net/AbbieLaudato/korean-literature-23552326

http://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/resources/sijo_samples.ph
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