CHINESE LITERATURE PRESENTATION

● China is the third-largest country and the world's most populous country
● Lu Xun is the father of Chinese literature
● 'China' comes from the Sanskrit "Cina", which was derived from the name of the Qin
Dynasty, the first ruling family of Imperial China.
LOCATION
● Also known as Land of the Dragon
● A country in East Asia.
● It has five time zones and borders
● With 14 countries by land.
● It has 9.6 million square kilometers
● It is the third-largest country
● With 22 provinces and 4 municipalities.
● Beijing is the national capital
● Shanghai is the most populous city and largest financial center.
HISTORY
Names of China
* Earliest known as Zhongguo means Middle kingdom or Central State.
* 'China' comes from the Sanskrit "Cina", which was derived from the name of the Qin Dynasty,
the first ruling family of Imperial China.
Three Sections of China
* Ancient China (2070 BC - 221 BC)
* Imperial China (221 BC - 1912 AD)
* Modern China (1912 - Present Day)
Three Main Dynasties
1. Xia Dynasty (2070 BC - 1600 BC)
2. Shang Dynasty (1600 BC - 1046 BC)
- The first recorded writing comes known as oracle bone script.
3. Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 256 BC)
- The Longest Dynasty
Bronze age of China
The Shang and Zhou dynasties are known as the Bronze Age of China because archaeologists
have found many examples of weapons, vessels, tools made from bronze coming from that
time.
POPULATION
* The world's second most populous country
* 1.4 billion population which makes up 22 percent of the world total.
* One-child policy implemented in the early 1970's
* 2016 - Two children was allowed
* 2021 - The end of the policy.

HISTORY OF CHINESE LITERATURE

Chinese Literature: Confucianism ( 6th–5th century BCE )
Kong Qi (K’ung Fu-tzu or Master Kong)
-Chinese scholar
-itinerant ( travel from place to place) teacher, Confucius (551–479 BC)
What is Confucianism:
- not exactly a religion
- it makes the individual aware of his place in the world and the behavior appropriate to it. It also
provides a political and social philosophy.
- Its influence has also extended to other countries, particularly Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
Confucianism strongly emphasizes:
1. Mercy
2. Social order
3. Fulfillment of Responsibilities
GOAL
- Its primary purpose is to achieve harmony/ unity, the most important social value.
5 Constant Virtues:
1. Ren
- benevolence, humanity, human heartedness, goodness, or love
- the love for yourself and the love for others
- is made up of the Chinese characters meaning "man" and "two, makes a person human and
life worth living.
Confucius calls a person who achieves ren a "superior person," "ideal person," or "sage."
2. Li
- ritual, proper conduct, or propriety (ownership)
- means a moral discipline in personal conduct and propriety in everything.
- shows respect to the traditions (of rites and ceremonies)
3. Yi
- Righteousness
- duties and responsibilities to family, community, nation, and the world
- doing right unconditionally, that is, doing right for that is what ought to be done.
4. ZHI
- “Wisdom”
- Hsueh (learning)-describes the object of the knowing process; Ssu (thinking)-
process of critical thinking and reflection.
- Three methods may learn wisdom: First by reflection, which is the noblest: second by
imitation, which is the easiest; and third by experience, the bitterest.
- “Knowledge is to acknowledge what is known, and what is unknown as not known.
5. XIN
- Trustworthiness; honesty, believing, and trusting
- “To be successful, a man should be by nature honest and devoted to righteousness. He
would take heed to what is spoken and would note the countenance.
- Important role in social relations and engagement with the administration. That will make
up the moral man.

Chinese Literature: Taoism/ Daoism

Lao Tzu (c. 500 BCE)
The "Tao" is usually translated "The Way" - the way in which a flower grows from a
seed, according to its natural inborn potential.
★ Taoism Symbol: Yin Yang (symbolic representation of the world's polarities, dualisms,
and fundamental dichotomies: light and dark, male and female, life and death)
★ The important Taoist principles are inaction, simplicity and living in harmony with nature.
★ Fundamental Daoist ideas and concerns include:
★ wuwei (“effortless action”)
★ ziran (“naturalness”)
★ how to become a shengren (“sage”)
 ★ zhenren (“perfected person”)
★ the ineffable, mysterious Dao (“Way”) itself.
● political ideas are very passive: the good king does nothing, and by this, everything is
done naturally.

Chinese Literature: Chinese Revolution

● wide class division
● 1911- led by Sun Yat-sen
● more division, more fighting and more official corruption
● Communist and the kuomintang
● In 1931, japanese entered the picture
● 1945, when the Japanese surrendered
● In 1949, the kuomintang was pushed off the mainland and on to taiwan
● The People's republic of China was proclaimed by Mao Tse-tung
● Economic structure, the very basis of society, and all relationships that grow out of the
structure
● The family is no longer the economic unity or even the first loyalty of its members, but is
still the family.
● Practical and humanistic

Short Description of Confucius Analects

The sayings of Confucius were remembered by his followers and were later compiled in a book
of Analects (sayings), perhaps having been expanded on in the meantime. Through them, we
discover Confucius's notions of the virtues, Le., the positive character traits, to which we should
aspire. Revered for over two millennia, the Analects provide a window into Confucius's
philosophy, offering guidance on morality, virtue, and the intricacies of human relationships.

Confucius Analects: On Filial Piety

"It is being obedient."
“That parents, when alive, should be served according to ritual: that, when dead, they should be
buried according to ritual; and that they should be sacrificed according to ritual."
“The filial piety of now-a-days means providing nourishment for one's parents.”
Confucius Analects: On Goodness
“When abroad, behave to everyone as if you were receiving an important test, treat people as if
you were a great sacrifice: do not do to others as you would not wish done to yourself. There
you will let no murmuring rise against you in the country, and none in the family.”

Confucius Analects: On the Gentleman.

The Master said, "Riches and honours are what men desire; but if they cannot be obtained
in the proper way, they should be let go. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike; but if they
cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided, if a gentleman abandons
virtue, how can he fulfill the requirements of his title? A gentleman not, even for the space of a
single meal, act contrary to virtue. Even in moments of haste and in times of danger, he clings to
virtue,"
The Master said, "A gentleman, well studied in literature, and abiding by the rules of ritual,
will not go very wrong."
When gentlemen perform well all their duties to their relations, the people are inspired to
virtue. When they remain true to their old friends, the people are preserved from irresponsible
behavior."
The Master said, "A gentleman points out the admirable qualities of men and does not point
out their bad qualities. A petty man does just the opposite."
The Master said, "A gentleman is distressed by his lack of ability, but he is not distressed by
men's not knowing him.
The Master said, "What the gentleman demands is something of himself. What the petty man
demands is something of others."

Confucius Analects: On Ritual and Music

The Master said, "If a man lacks the human virtues, what has he to do with ritual man lacks
the human virtues, what has he to do with music?"
The Master Said, "Respectfulness, without the rules of ritual becomes laborious bustle: a
carefulness, without the rules, becomes timidity, boldness becomes insubordination;
straightforwardness becomes rudeness."
The Master said, "It is by the Odds that a man's mind is aroused by the rules of ritual that his
character is established, and by music that he is perfected.”

Confucius Analects: On Education

"Anyone learning without thought is lost: anyone thinking but not learning is in peril."
"Yu, shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing to realize that you know it,
and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it: this is knowledge."
The Master observed,"How numerous the people are!" Ran Yu asked, "When they are more
numerous, what more shall be done for them?" "Enrich them," was the reply. "And when they
have been enriched, what more shall be done?" The Master said, "Instruct them."
Confucius Analects: On Government
"To rule a country of a thousand chariots requires reverent attention to business, sincerity,
economy in expenditures, and love for men, as well as the employment of the people only in the
right seasons."
"If the people are governed by laws and punishment is used maintain order, they will try to avoid
the punishment but have no sense of shame. If the are governed by virtue and rules of propriety
ritualſ are used to maintain order, they w have a sense of shame and will become good as well."
Ji Kang Zi asked Confucius about government, saying, "What do you say to killing those who
are unprincipled (l.e, the immoral for the good of those who are principled Confucius replied,
"Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing? Let your obvious desires be for
what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like
that between the wind and the grass: the grass is bound to bend when the wind blows across it."

Confucius Analects: On Religion

"I do not know. Anyone who knew its meaning would find it as easy to govern the
kingdom as to look on this," - by master
"Until you are able to serve men, how can you serve their ghosts?- Master
"While you do not know life, how can you hope to know about death? Answer by Zilu

Essay: In Praise of Bean Curd

● It is here, there, everywhere

● sweet or salty, sour or hot, make soup or main dish.
● whiteness, softness, blandness
● 72 transformation without losing its own character
● half of protein
● Vegetarian meat
● Empress dowager Tsu hsi, of Qing dynasty
● 49 steamers of bean curd
● 49 days for the pearls
● soaking soya beans-- 4-8 hours
● Chinese culture--- honesty, poverty and hard work
● Chinese novels and plays
 ● Chinese language --- a Ben curd beauty means a girl in a poor family, a Ben curd official
is an honest one

Conclusion:
Chinese literature, a diverse tapestry woven through various cultures and historical periods,
serves as a reflection of China's evolving identity. From classical poetry to modern fiction, it
mirrors the influence of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The adaptability of Chinese
literature transcends borders, resonating globally. Contemporary authors navigate modern
complexities, offering insights into societal changes. In exploring both classical and
contemporary works, Chinese literature unveils the enduring power of storytelling and written
expression. Voices across time speak to universal human themes, making it a source of
inspiration and enlightenment. Through the richness of its heritage and ongoing contributions,
Chinese literature remains a valuable cultural treasure with global significance.