Module 7 - Asian Literature

Question 1

• Conflict in Tradition and Modernity
• Acceptance of Western forms. In the case of Japanese Literature, synthesis of indigenous, traditional,
  and western forms is evident (e.g. Anime and Manga)
• Gender issues and religious conflict

Answer 1

Asian literature in the Contemporary Age

Question 2

Asia, the largest continent with a diverse population, has produced the oldest human civilizations, including the Sumer and Indus Valley
civilizations. Writings from Asia
originate from ancient literary
traditions in China, Japan, and
Korea.

Answer 2

East Asian Literature

Question 3

a is a significant player in Asian
literature due to its dominance and influence on other countries like Japan and Korea. With one of the oldest existing literatures which to date is 3,000 years old.

Answer 3

China

Question 4

China uses ____ to represent ideas, making its writings accessible to all people regardless of local or regional dialects.

Answer 4

script or characters

Question 5

The end of the ___ in 1949 marked the beginning of the present age in Chinese literature, which began with the establishment of the Communist People’s Republic of China.

Answer 5

New Cultural Movement

Question 6

influenced by personal experiences and political convictions, features diverse works in genres like novel, short story, essay, poetry, and play.
These writers explore human
problems, experiences, and issues arising from geographical and cultural concerns.

Answer 6

21st-century Chinese literature

Question 7

Harvard professor ___
discusses 21st-century Chinese
literature, primarily focusing on
science fantasy. He notes
censorship in China and the
increasing use of the internet for political writings. He also
discusses the emergence of
“Sinophone literature,” written by Chinese-speaking writers outside China, and distinguishes it from “Chinese literature.”

Answer 7

David Der-wei

Question 8

a major global literary form, initially had no writing system but developed its own based on borrowed Chinese characters or script, Kanji.

Answer 8

Japanese literature

Question 9

Japanese literary history is divided into four periods:

Answer 9

ancient, classic, medieval,
and modern.

Question 10

Japanese system of writing is called ___

Answer 10

Kanji

Question 10

a popular form of entertainment in Japan, has become a significant development in the
21st-century. It covers various genres such as action, adventure, romance, drama, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, and comedy

Answer 10

Manga

Question 11

the oldest extant chronicle in Japan and followed by the kanji

Answer 11

The Kojiki

Question 12

winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize for Literature

Answer 12

Kenzaburō Ōe

Question 13

recipient of Britain’s Man Booker Prize in 1989

Answer 13

Ishiguro Kazuo

Question 14

the 2006 winner of the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.

Answer 14

Haruki Murakami

Question 15

an avant-garde mangaka who has been consistently conferred the prestigious Manga Awards in Japan over the years;

Answer 15

Naoki Urasawa

Question 15

who has earned immense popularity in Japan and in many countries for his Dragon Ball series

Answer 15

Akira Toriyama

Question 16

a popular household mangaka in and out of Japan known for his Naruto series

Answer 16

Masashi Kishimoto

Question 17

like Japanese,
developed under Chinese influence, with its first writing system, Hanja, derived from Chinese script and characters. Influences include Confucianism, Taoism, and
Buddhism.

Answer 17

Korean literature

Question 18

Korean literature has a rich literary history, spanning two periods:

Answer 18

classical and modern

Question 19

True or False

Korea’s classical literature is the Hyangga

Answer 19

True

Question 19

shaped by traditional Korean folk beliefs, were written in Hanja.

Answer 19

classical period

Question 20

poems or varying length of four, eight, and ten lines, commonly composed by Buddhist monks.

Answer 20

Hyangga

Question 21

songs categorized as either short form or extended form, which do not adhere to any Strict measure or rhyme.

Answer 21

Koryo-Koryo

Question 22

poetry that breathes Neo-Confucianism

Answer 22

Shijo

Question 23

short verses that are repositories of personal sentiments and moral admonitions.

Answer 23

Kasa

Question 24

In the 15th century, the Hanja was replaced by ___

Answer 24

Hangul

Question 25

has since become Korea’s dominant language and, eventually, the language of modern Korean literature.

Answer 25

Hangul

Question 26

the 38th parallel-fell under the control of the former Soviet Union. Writings were more conservative under the strict control of the Communist government,

Answer 26

North Korea

Question 27

38th parallel came under the rule of the United States. Was more open, loose, democratic, and Western oriented.

Answer 27

South Korea