Brought to you by Group One

Angela Baldwin, Ellie Shoup, Jon King, Julie Ressler, Shannon Farmer

Vernacular Literature in China

After conquering north China, they conquered the Southern Sung Dynasty

Functioned similarly to Chinese imperial government

Contempt for Confucian principlesSuspended examination system

Classical lit never regained its significant roleAlthough still important to intellectuals

Vernacular began to be published

Mongols Attack!

Lacked subtlety of classical litSexViolenceSatireHumor

Elaborated on classical sourcesFilled in detailsClosed gapsInterrelated storiesNew virtues, failingsex) 2 pages = 30 pages or even 1,000

Characteristics of Vernacular Lit

Historical RomancesThe Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Dry historical account turned into “dazzling saga of battles and clever stratagems”

Murder MysteriesOften based on recent cases“Judge Pao” functioned as what we would call a

modern detective

NovelsWater Margin Monkey

Popular Works in the Vernacular

Neo-Confucianism Attempt to discover philosophy behind Confucian

classicsRigid strictures on self-cultivation and ethical

behavior Failed to address common life

Vernacular literature celebrated libertyviolent energy passion

Vernacular Lit Against the World

Morte Darthur by Malorycombines legends of European Middle Ages

MonkeyBreakthrough text written in Vernacular

ChineseRepresents retelling and elaboration of

materialsEvolved over many centuriesFinal form attributed to Wu Ch’eng-en

King Arthur and the Monkey King

Journey of Hsüan Tsang (aka “Tripitaka”)

Buddhist monkTraveled from China to IndiaSearching for Buddhist scripturesHe wrote an account of his travels

Stories based off of this account may have been what evolved into Monkey

Historical Basis for Monkey

Monkey is an important work of literature because it represents the changes that were occurring within the Chinese culture during the Ming Dynasty. Vernacular literature allowed more people to relate to written stories. In a sense, it made room for pop culture.

It continues to be told in a way that is relevant to people even today.

The form of “vernacular” has changed with the times, but the story remains just as powerful.

Why does this matter?