Chinese Literature by EAS: Introduction to Chinese Literature

Introduction to Chinese Literature

China possesses one of the world's major literary traditions. Its texts have been preserved for over 3,000 years. Reverence for the past has influenced the preservation of these cultural sources, and may have influenced the invention of woodblock printing in the 9th century and movable type printing in the 12th century. The practice of collecting and reproducing libraries has also played a major role in the transmission of literary tradition. Most important, China can boast an unbroken cultural tradition based on the Chinese script as a language — a written medium — independent of spoken dialectic difference. As literary language became increasingly removed from spoken language, it became less vital and literature took a natural turn toward imitation. Indeed, after the formative classical period that began with Confucius, the literary history of China becomes one of imitation-with-variations of different models. Literature also thus becomes more elitist, for an understanding or appreciation of a text may require familiarity with the models being alluded to.

The Zhou Dynasty (1045-255 BC) is known for its surviving religious and philosophical texts. In the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), texts of an influential political philosophy called Legalism were written. Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) authors contributed important poetry and scientific and historical texts. The Tang Dynasty (618-907) poets were considered the best of all the eras in Chinese history, and literature was more widely published by early woodblock printing. During the Song Dynasty era (960-1279), travelers wrote travel literature, more literary poetry was written, the Neo-Confucian Classics were codified, and administration officials did advanced scientific research and published advanced scientific texts. In the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), great dramas and classic fictional novels in the vernacular language were written. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), some more important novels were written. In the last dynasty called the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), some more great novels were written; and at the end of that era, there was pre-modern literature. During the modern era (1912-present), the literature was westernized and used for political purposes. The long unbroken stream of Chinese literature is hard to summarize. Major works survive of a variety of genres including poetry, classic fictional novels, scientific and historical works, Neo-Confucian Classics and other ancient classical texts; and in the modern era, writers wrote about social and political change incorporating Western ideas and utilizing Western literary forms.

Contribution of Each Dynasty to the Chinese Literature

1. Shang Dynasty (1700-1050 BC) : Development of Chinese Writing
2. Zhou Dynasty (1045-255 BC) : Basic Philosophical and Religious Literature
3. Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) : Literary Disaster and Legalism
4. Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) : Scientific and Historical Texts
5. Tang Dynasty (618-907) : Early Woodblock Printing and Poetry
6. Song Dynasty (960-1279) : Early Woodblock Printing, Travel Literature, Poetry, Scientific Texts and the Neo-Confucian Classics
7. Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) : Drama and Great Fictional Novels
8. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) : Novels
9. Qing Dynasty(1644-1911) : Novels and Pre-modern Literature
10. Modern Era (1912-present) :Westernized Literature