A Survey on Asian Literature

A Survey on Asian Literature

by Ramona Christine Gonzales

Objectives:

1. Introduce the Asian literature

2. Define Asian Literature based on Territory​

3. Appreciate different forms of literature in Asian territories.

Multiple Choice

According to the United Nations, how many countries in total the Asia continent comprises?

• 42

• 12

• 48

• 24

​48 COUNTRIES

​Asia is the largest continent on the earth. It was the cradle of civilization. It has witnessed events, recorded or not. It has watched people’s lives and heard their stories.

A continent as big as Asia is not only rich in its population and natural resources. It is also wealthy in stories—real, fictional, and poetic. It’s a crossroad of literature.

Asian Literature

​Asian literature refers to the extensive body of literary texts produced in Asia, by Asians, for Asians, and anyone else in the world. There is no single quality that would encompass all of Asian literature—from the past to the present, especially considering that there are 48 countries and each has its own stories to tell.

​Theme Authenticity

​Asian literature reminds us of the authentic identity the east has before the westerners conquered parts of it. Moreover, it is also good to point out that most of their post-colonial works were also about finding one’s identity and how colonialism has impacted the authenticity of their identity.

​Asian Literature based on territory

East Asian Literature

Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian literature

South Asian literature

Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Bhutanese literature

Southeast Asian literature

Thai, Philippine, Malaysian, Indonesian, Burmese, Vietnamese,
Cambodian, and Laotian literature

Central Asian literature

Kazakh, Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz literature

West Asian literature

Persian, Arabic, Iraq, Iran, Jewish, and Turkish literature)

Multiple Choice

Based on the Asian territory, where does Philippine Literature belongs?

• East Asian Literature

• South Asian Literature

• Southeast Asian Literature

• Central Asian Literature

• West Asian Literature

Multiple Choice

Based on the Asian territory, where does Chinese Literature belongs?

• East Asian Literature

• South Asian Literature

• Southeast Asian Literature

• Central Asian Literature

• West Asian Literature

Multiple Choice

Based on the Asian territory, where does Persian, Arabic, and Jewish Literature belongs?

• East Asian Literature

• South Asian Literature

• Southeast Asian Literature

• Central Asian Literature

• West Asian Literature

Multiple Choice

Based on the Asian territory, where does Indian Literature belongs?

• East Asian Literature

• South Asian Literature

• Southeast Asian Literature

• Central Asian Literature

• West Asian Literature

Fill in the Blank

What is the former name of Iran?

Fill in the Blank

What is the former name of Iraq?

​Orientalism

Edward Said, a Palestinian-American professor of literature at Columbia University, published a book called ‘Orientalism’ in 1978, elaborated the concept of Orientalism that depicts how the west views the east, most specifically the Middle East, but also includes the Asian and African societies, as exotic, barbaric, backward, and inferior, and therefore needed saving and help from the more advanced people of the west. This idea was what westerners used to rationalize their colonialism.

Multiple Choice

In Orientalism by Edward Said, Asian literature is...

• INFERIOR Literature

• SUPERIOR Literature

Draw

The westerners view the east as exotic, barbaric, backward, and inferior. What is your reaction? Draw it through emojis.

Multiple Choice

What is the largest country in Asia?

• Russia

• Japan

• China

• Philippines

​Chinese Literature

​Chinese Literature

Chinese literature is time-honored with a history of about 3000 years. With its unique form and style and rich cultural content, Chinese literature is distinguished by featured aesthetic ideals, reigning traditional thoughts and culture, and critical systems.

Multiple Choice

One of the influential authors/writers/philosophers in China that is known for his teachings of morality is _________________.

• Aristotle

• Buddha

• Shiva

• Confucius

​Confucius

​What made Chinese literature also influential? The teachings of Confucius. Confucius could be referred to as one of the world’s greatest philosophers. “The Analects of Confucius” is a book that is composed of the sayings and teachings of Confucius gathered by his followers. These teachings emphasized the importance of morality.

Multiple Choice

Who is the first emperor of China?

• Avatar

• Qin Shi Huang

• Gaozu

• Emperor Yanglo

Qin Shi Shang

​He was the founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of unified China. The first Qin Emperor was a brutal ruler who unified ancient China and laid the foundation for the Great Wall. He lived 2,200 years ago!

Famed for his army of terracotta warriors built to protect him for eternity, the Emperor is also one of the most controversial figures in history.

​Indian Literature

Multiple Choice

It is one of the Indian beliefs that are very famous worldwide. It is the world's third-largest religion, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global population.

• Buddhism

• Dharma

• Hinduism

• Islam

Multiple Choice

In Hinduism, Who is their god or creator?

• Avatar

• Brahma

• Vishnu

• Shiva

Multiple Choice

In Hinduism, Who is the "Preserver"?

• Avatar

• Brahma

• Vishnu

• Shiva

Multiple Choice

In Indian belief or also known as Hinduism, Who is the "Destroyer"?

• Avatar

• Brahma

• Vishnu

• Shiva

Hindu Gods and Goddesses​

​Brahma, the Creator

• is the first member of the Hindu Trinity and is “the Creator” because he periodically creates everything in the universe.

​

​Vishnu, the Preserver

• is the second member of the Hindu Trinity. He maintains the order and harmony of the universe

​

​Shiva, the Destroyer

• is the third member of the Hindu Trinity, tasked with destroying the universe in order to prepare for its renewal at the end of each cycle of time.

​​Indian Literature

​Indian literature is also quite a popular area of study when it comes to Asian literature. Their widely known literary pieces center on their beliefs and religion.

​Some of their popular genres are:

• ​erotic

• ​devotional lyrics

• ​court poetry

• ​plays

• ​narrative folktales

​

​Sanskrit

​Their early literature was also written mostly in Sanskrit, the language which they believed was used by gods.

Multiple Choice

What is the first ever book in the world that was compiled and written in Sanskrit?

• Vedas

• Ramayana

• Bible

• Rigveda

​Indians Caste System

Take note:

​Two of their most important and popular literary pieces are the epics “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata,” which were both reflections of the ancient Indian background and Hinduism.

​Japanese

Literature

Multiple Choice

It is a member of a professional class of women in Japan whose traditional occupation is to entertain men. They are highly respected and cannot be married.

• Japanese

• Majika

• Geisha

• UwU

Multiple Choice

It is a poem composed of three lines having 5-7-5 syllables.

• Hammurabi

• Haiku

• Tanka

• Taichi

​Haiku

​Japanese literature is also widely known. Most popular literary form from Japan would probably its poetry, most specifically the Haiku. As you probably know, Haiku is a Japanese poetry that is only composed of three lines having 5-7-5 syllables respectively.

Multiple Choice

It is a poem composed of five lines having 5-7-5-7-7 syllables.

• Hammurabi

• Haiku

• Tanka

• Taichi

​Tanka

​Another popular form of Japanese poetry is Tanka, which is a little longer compared to a Haiku as it has 5 lines, with its first and third line having five syllables and the rest having seven. 5-7-5-7-7.

Multiple Choice

It is a drama that relies on music and dance with its poetic language. Male actors portray all characters and the main character in the story wears a mask.

• Nak Theatre

• Noh Theatre

• Geish Theatre

• Gas Theatre

​Noh Theatre

​Japanese literature is also known because of its drama as it is considered as the most favorite way of entertainment of the Japanese in ancient times. One popular form of drama in Japan is the Noh theater. It’s a kind of drama that relies on music and dance, with its language greatly poetic. What’s also distinct with Noh is that all characters are portrayed by male actors and that the main character in the story wears a mask which suggests the audience the kind of character being portrayed.

Multiple Choice

It is a stage play that is highly stylized as it includes elaborate costumes and makeup and was originally acted only by women.

• Harakiri Play

• Sepukku Play

• Taichi Play

• Kabuki Play

​Kabuki Play

​Another popular drama in ancient Japan is the Kabuki play, which was originally acted only by women. However, after women were banned from joining theatrical plays, it became a drama enacted by men. Kabuki is known to be a stage play that is highly stylized as it includes elaborate costumes and makeup. Even the actors’ acting should be elaborate and exaggerated.