Afro-Asian Literature

ChineseChinese Literature Literature

►Chinese literature has very ancient

beginnings. It was first recorded about 5,000

years ago and has since documented the

dreams and visions of a people who

number about one-fifth of the world’s

population.

ChineseChinese Language Language

►The Chinese language is monosyllabic, and does

not have any polysyllabic words which has

four syllables. This might give you the

idea that the number of words

in the language is limited; but because

Chinese is a tonal language. The same

word changes in meaning when it is

said.

Chinese WritingChinese Writing

▶Chinese writing is different. It has no

alphabet; instead it consists of about

50,000 characters. Each character

does not represent the spoken word;

instead it represents an idea.

Chinese writing is, therefore, made

up of ideographs.

ConfuciusConfucius

►was a Chinese thinker and

social philosopher, whose

teachings and philosophy have

deeply influenced Chinese,

Korean, Japanese, and

Vietnamese thought and life.

Two Greatest Chinese PoetsTwo Greatest Chinese Poets

▶ Li Po, or Li Tai Po, was one of

the leading Chinese poets of the

eight century. His writings deal

with the good things in life and with

the pathos of human destiny.

Two Greatest Chinese PoetsTwo Greatest Chinese Poets

Po-Chu-I was well-known

Chinese poet who represented the

classical tradition in Chinese

literature, politics, and morality. He

was a public official who was

inspired by a strong social

conscience.

Japanese LiteratureJapanese Literature

▶ The Japanese are intensely

proud of their history and take

great care in keeping and

preserving records. In cities there

are professional storytellers who

earn their livelihood by narrating

legendary and historical tales.

Japanese Written LanguageJapanese Written Language

►The written language, therefore, consists mainly of

characters borrowed from the Chinese, each

character representing an idea. But there now exists

in Japan a basic alphabet of only

forty-seven characters—the Katakana .

Japanese Literary WorksJapanese Literary Works

Records of Ancient Matters, is the oldest surviving book in Japan. It is written in Chinese, but it includes numerous Japanese names and phrases.

Japanese Literary WorksJapanese Literary Works

Nihongi, is the second

oldest book of in Japan. It is

more elaborate and detailed

than the Kojiki. It tells of the

early history of Japan in

poetry and shows the

profound influence of the

Chinese.

3 Types of Japanese Drama3 Types of Japanese Drama

Noh play-it was a play reserved

for nobility, and the audience

dressed themselves in

ceremonial robes. Legend says

that the Noh has its origin in

dance and that this dance was

invented by the gods.

3 Types of Japanese Drama3 Types of Japanese Drama

Puppet play (or doll

theater)-the puppets are

beautifully made and lifelike

in size. The strings are

expertly manipulated and

the dialogue realistically

interpreted.

3 Types of Japanese Drama3 Types of Japanese Drama

Kabuki-it is less intellectual

and more realistic, even

sensational.

Japanese PoetryJapanese Poetry

▶ Manyo Shu (collection of myriad leaves)- is the oldest collection of poetry and was compiled in A.D 800.

▶Haiku- is the most popular Japanese poetry and it is composed of a seventeen-syllable poem.

Philippine LiteraturePhilippine Literature

♥Philippine Literature has its roots in the

efforts of the United States, which had

been engaged in a war with Filipino

nationalist forces at the end of the

19th century, to establish in the country

a government based on the ideals of

"universality, practicality, and democracy."

Three Periods in Philippine Three Periods in Philippine LiteratureLiterature

▶The Legendary and Epic Age- the literature of this period consisted of magical incantations, myths, legends, and folktales.

▶The Spanish Occupation- the literature during this period was religious in nature.

▶The American Occupation- the Americans introduced the English language.

African LiteratureAfrican Literature

▶The African works best known in the

West from the period of colonization

and slave trade. With liberation and

increased literacy since most African

nations gained their independence in

the 50s & 60s.

Rastafarianism

▶Rastafarianism is a religion that was

created in the early 1900 hundreds

due to the social and poor economic

conditions of the Black people in

Jamaica. Their unique hairstyle

know as the "dreadlocks“.

Bob Marley

▶Marley is regarded by many as

a prophet of the Rastafarian

move-ment. He is the most widely

known performer of reggae music.

was a Jamaican singer, song-

writer, guitarist, and activist.

La Amistad

►it was originally named Friendship

but was renamed after being

purchased by a Spaniard. La

Amistad became a symbol in the

movement to abolish slavery after a

group of African captives

aboard revolted.

Slave Trade

►The history of slavery covers

many different forms of

human exploitation across

many cultures throughout

human history.