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