Transcript Chinese and Japanese Unit Draft2

Chinese and Japanese Literature
(1000 B.C. to 1890 A.D.
China
Historical Background
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 world’s oldest surviving civilization (approx. 3,500
years)
 Began in Yellow River Basin (Northern China)
 By 1600 B.C .- developed complex economic and
social system
~ Shang Dynasty developed by elite group of kings
(Northern China)
China
Historical Background

 believed heaven granted rulers right to rule
 subjects must live in complete obedience in exchange
for good government
 people had the right to rebel
China
Historical Background

Chou Dynasty (1122-256/255 B.C.)
 Central Asian people
 overthrew Shang Dynasty
 advances in philosophy (Taoism and Confucianism), despite political
turmoil
Confucianism
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official state doctrine
for over 2,000 years
founded by Confucius
(551-479 B.C.)
focus on morality
Stresses obedience to
authority figures
Taoism
Buddhism
• founded by Lao Tzu
• focus on human
connection to nature
• humans are seen as
equals to all creation
• Stresses simplistic
lifestyle
• originated in India
• proliferated China in
the 2nd Century
• teaches earth filled
with suffering and
characterized by
illusion
China
Historical Background
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Ch’in Dynasty (221-206 B.C.)
• short lived (15 years)
• built a system of roads
• Great Wall of China (4,500 miles)
Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.)
• established trade with Europe and western Asia
• introduction of Buddhism
T’ang Dynasty (618-907)
• Golden Age of China
• rulers created empire that stretched from Pacific Ocean to borders of
Persia and India- world’s most effective system of government
• invention of gun powder and block printing
China
Historical Background
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Sung Dynasty (960-1279)
• Neo-Confucianism- reaction against Buddhist influence; blending of
morality and meditation to achieve enlightenment
Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368)
• overrun by Mongol invaders
• dynasty established by Genghis Khan
• first foreign rule of China
• flourishing trade
~Exp. ) visit from Venetian Marco Polo
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
• avoided foreign influence, due to the former invasion of Mongols
China
Historical Background

Ch’ing Dynasty (1644-1911/1912)
• 2nd foreign dynasty- Manchurian
• unrest toppled dynasty and imperial rule
Japan
Historical Background
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 little known about original settlers
 farming through irrigation by 200 B.C.
 immigration from Korea and other Asian countries
 divided into tribal organizations called uji or clan
~aristocrats
~warriors
~spiritual leaders
Japan
Historical Background

Yamato Clan and Chinese Influence
 4th Century- Yamato Clan most powerful in Japan
 Brought Chinese beliefs to Japan (Buddhism;
Confucianism)
 Chinese influence also found in architecture, art,
clothing, and language, and political structure
(central imperial rule)
Japan
Historical Background
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The Heian Age
 794- new imperial capital built in Heian (now Kyoto)
 courtiers- a refined life; devoted to ceremonies and
festivals
 emperor’s power began to diminish; political rule fell
into hands of powerful aristocrat family- Fujiwara
 large aristocratic families set up estates on outskirts
in hopes to challenge Fujiwara family
Japan
Historical Background
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Feudal Japan
 warrior nobility like Western Europe
 Samurai or Daimyo- lords/highest class
 Minamoto Yoritomo became powerful shogun, chief
general
 trouble unifying Japan led to centuries of feudal
warfare
Japan
Historical Background
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Japan Shuts Out the World
 1600’s- Tokugawa shoguns created a peaceful society
with a central government
 new capital built in Edo (Tokyo)
 Tokugawa felt threatened by European traders
 1639-closed Japan to world
Japan
Historical Background

Perry Opens the Door
 1853- United States fleet lead by Perry arrived in Edo
to end Japanese isolation
 14 years later, Tokugawa shogunate ended
 new emperor called reign Meiji (enlightened rule)
 Japanese began to study western ways
 Japan became a modern industrial nation by 1900
Japan
Historical Background
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Japanese Religious Traditions
Shintoism
Buddhism
• nature worship
• emphasized life’s
• believed the elements of
impermanence, to
nature to be inhabited by
overcome the sorrows of
spirits called kami
earthly existence
• Zen- a form of Buddhism
which emphasized
attainment of tranquility
through mental and
physical discipline
• rituals, tea ceremony,
samurai
Chinese Literature
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Philosophy
 Along with poetry, most popular genre
 The Analects –Confucius
 Tao Te Ching- Lao Tzu
Chinese Literature
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Poetry
 The Book of Songs- oldest collection of Chinese
literature
 Forms: shih; tz’u
 Poets: T’ao Ch’ien; Li Po; Tu Fu
 T’ang’era- golden age of Chinese poetry
Chinese Literature
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Drama and Fiction
 regarded to be inferior to poetry
 Yuan dynasty- golden age of Chinese drama
 Plays: The Romance of the Western Chamber; Injustices
Suffered by Tou-o
 Novel: Dream of the Red Chamber
Japanese Literature
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Poetry
 Man’yoshu (“Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”)first anthology of Japanese poetry
 contains more than 1,000 poems
 Haiku- Matsua Basho, Yosa Buson, Koayashi