World'scradle of civilization, developed an independentcivilization with an unbroken literary tradition dating back to the 14th century BCE
Chinese language
Developed over 3000 years ago
Tang Dynasty
Golden era of Chinese literature (618-907)
Notable Chinese poets
Tu Fu, Li Po, Wang Wei
Japan
Influenced by Chinese language and literature
Haiku
Short descriptive poem with 17 syllables
Noh and Kabuki
Forms of Japanese theater
Masks and face paint
Used in Japanese theater
Japaneseliterature is simple yet complex, imperfect yet abounding with beauty
Korea
Influenced by Chinese language and literature as early as the 4th century CE, developed a writing system based on transliteration of Chinese sounds in the 15th century
South Asia
India
Cultural giant
3 Hindu writing •Vedas - poems and themes
Brahmanas - Explanation of rituals and the meaning of Vedas
Upanishads - Philosophical texts
Central Asia
Political in culture, form in Government
Tsarist - absolute monarchy, king and queen.
MiddleEast
Arabicliterarytradition
Islam - foundationofculture: Religion, Influence and was influenced by Persian, Byzantine(Istanbul), Andalusian traditions(Spain)
SoutheastAsia
Burma Myanmar - Influenced by Buddhism
Thailand (2 golden era) 1657-1688, 1809-1824
Malaysia and Indonesia - Sanskrit language and Islamic Culture
China
Mo Yan, Fictionist & 2012 Nobel Prize. Novelist & story writers
Japan
Meiji Restoration, Western Influences. Poetic forms - Tanka (5-7-5-7-7), Haiku (17)(5-7-5). Playrights - Abe Kobo, Mishima Yukio
Korea
Korean War. 3 Themes: Alienation, conscience, and disintegration. Self-Identity. 20th century - Poems, Novels, Plays.
India
Independence in 20th century. Colonization English Language, Postcolonial texts after colonization, India writers - Prem Chand, Raja Rao, and R.K. Narayan
Central Asia
Political in culture, Soviet Union, Abdullah Qadiry - Uzbek language. 2 writers - Mukhtar Auezuli(Kazakh language), Chinyiz Aytmatov(Russian Language)
Arabic Tradition
21st century- issue on freedom of expression, Tension between religious and secular moments
Southeast Asia
Colonial and Postcolonial, Brimanese works in 20th century. Malaysia and Indonesia - Developed new Malay and Indonesian Languages. Thailand - Influenced by the West, contact with west during ww2