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. Among the significant advances of this period were bronze working,
decimal system, a twelve-month calendar and a system of writing consisting of
3,000 characters.
Shang Dynasty
This was the longest of all the
dynasties and throughout most of this period China suffered from severe political
disunity and upheaval. This era was also known as the Hundred Schools period
because of the many competing philosophers and teachers who emerged the most
influential among them being Lao Tzu, the proponent of Taoism, and Confucius,
the founder of Confucianism. Lao Tzu stressed freedom, simplicity, and the
mystical contemplation of nature whereas Confucius emphasized a code of social
conduct and stressed the importance of discipline, morality, and knowledge.
Chou Dynasty
first compiled in the 6th century B.C., is the
oldest collection of Chinese poetry and is considered a model of poetic
expression and moral insight. The 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.
Although these poems were originally meant to be sung, their melodies have
long been lost.
The book of songs
illustrate 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. Among the
technological advances of this time were the invention of gunpowder and the
block printing.
T’ang Dynasty
Chinese lyrical poetry reached its height during the T’ang
Dynasty. Inspired by scenes of natural beauty, T’ang poets wrote about the
fragile blossoms in spring, the falling of leaves in autumn, or the changing shape
of the moon.
The T’ang Poets
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
During the late 12th and early 13th
centuries, northern China was overrun by Mongol invaders led by Genghis Khan
whose grandson Kublai Khan completed the Mongol conquest of China and
established the Yuan dynasty, the first foreign dynasty in China’s history. It was
during this time that Marco Polo visited China. Chinese rule was reestablished
after the Mongols were driven out of China and the Ming dynasty was
established. There was a growth of drama in colloquial language and a decline
of the language of learning. A second foreign dynasty, the Ch’ing was
established and China prospered as its population rapidly increased causing
Later Dynasties
The imperial rule lasted in China for
over 2,000 years leading to a pyramid-shaped hierarchy in the government. The
emperor, known as the Son of Heaven, was a hereditary ruler and beneath him
were bureaucratic officials. An official government career was considered
prestigious and the selection was by means of government examination
Traditional Chinese Government
Chinese literature and all of Chinese culture has been
profoundly influenced by three great schools of thought
Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism
the passive and feminine force, c
Yin
counterbalances ______g, the active
and masculine force, each contains a ‘seed’ of the other, a
Yang
provides the Chinese with both a moral order and an order
for the universe. It is not a religion but it makes individuals aware of their place
in the world and the behavior appropriate to it. It also provides a political and
social philosophy.
Confucianism
was China’s most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist,
whose ideas have influenced all civilizations of East Asia
Confucius
or
human heartedness are qualities or forms of behavior that set men above the rest
of the life on earth. It
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