Chinese Literature Flashcards
During this time, the people practiced a religion
based on the belief that nature was inhabited by many powerful gods and spirits.
Shang Dynasty
What are the three achievements during the Shang Dynasty?
•bronze working, decimal
system
•a twelve-month calendar
•a system of writing consisting of 3,000 characters.
This was the longest of all the dynasties and throughout most of this period China suffered from severe political disunity and upheaval.
“Hundred Schools Period”
Lao Tzu
Confucian
Chou
Oldest collection of Chinese poetry and is considered a model of poetic
expression and moral insight.
Poems include court songs that entertained
the aristocracy, story songs that recounted Chou dynasty legends, hymns that
were sung in the temples accompanied by dance and brief folk songs and ballads.
The Book of Songs, (Shih Ching)
It illustrates the Taoist belief and the
humanism of the Chinese thought. In them can be seen the relativity of all things
as they pass through man’s judgment, the virtues of flexibility, and the
drawbacks of material progress.
Parables of the Ancient Philosophers
This period saw the unification of China and the strengthening of central government. Roads connecting all parts of the
empire were built and the existing walls on the northern borders were connected
to form the Great Wall of China
Ch’in Dynasty
This period was one of the most glorious eras of Chinese history and was marked by the introduction of Buddhism from India.
Han Dynasty
Fine arts and literature flourished during this era
which is viewed as the Golden Age of Chinese civilization.
Han Dynasty
Among the
technological advances of Han Dynasty are the invention of:
•gunpowder
•block printing
This poem is entitled?
If you were to ask me why I dwell among green mountains,
I should laugh silently; my soul is serene.
The peach blossom follows the moving water;
There is another heaven and earth beyond the world of men.
Conversation in the Mountains by Li Po
This poem is entitled?
We were often separated How long does youth last?
Like the Dipper and the morning star. Now we are all gray-haired.
What night is tonight? Half of our friends are dead,
We are together in the candlelight. And both of us were surprised when
we met.
A Meeting by Tu Fu
This period was characterized by delicacy and
refinement although inferior in terms of literary arts but great in learning.
Professional poets were replaced by amateur writers. The practice of Neo-
Confucianism grew
Sung Dynasty
What are the three confician tenets?
Jen
Ren
Li
Human heartedness are qualities or forms of behavior that set men above the rest
of the life on earth.
Jen
It is the measure of individual character and such, is the
goal of self-cultivation.
Ren
