Safekipedia

Chinese literature

Adapted from Wikipedia ยท Discoverer experience

The inside of Chongwen Book City, a big bookstore in Wuhan, China.

Chinese literature has a rich history that stretches back thousands of years. It started with early inscriptions and court records, growing into important works of philosophy and history during a time known as the Axial Age. The Han (202 BC โ€“ 220 AD) and Tang (618โ€“907 AD) dynasties were special periods for poetry, while the Song (960โ€“1279) and Yuan (1271โ€“1368) dynasties were known for their lyrics, essays, dramas, and plays.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, novels began to be written in written vernacular Chinese, moving away from the older style of Literary Chinese used in the Chinese classics. Advances in printing, such as woodblock printing during the Tang and movable type printing by Bi Sheng during the Song, helped spread written knowledge widely across China. In the early 20th century, Lu Xun became a powerful voice in vernacular Chinese literature.

Pre-classical period

The earliest Chinese literature grew from oral traditions, including music, divinations, and rituals. Important texts like the Shijing and Yi jing show how these traditions shaped early writing. Scholars have studied how religious spells and incantations may have influenced the beginnings of Chinese literature.

Classical texts

Main article: Chinese classics

See also: List of Chinese language poets

Early Chinese literature has many important books from a time called the Hundred Schools of Thought during the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770โ€“256 BC). These books include ideas from Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism, as well as stories about war and Chinese history. Most of these books teach lessons and share ideas, rather than telling made-up stories.

Some of the most important books come from Confucianism. In the 1100s AD, nine special books were chosen for students learning to work for the government. These books are called the Five Classics and the Four Books. The Five Classics include the I Ching, a book about predicting the future, the Classic of Poetry with many poems and songs, the Book of Rites, the Book of Documents with speeches from leaders, and the Spring and Autumn Annals, a history book. The Four Books are the Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Doctrine of the Mean, and Great Learning, which teach about good behavior and learning.

Other important books include the Mozi teaching kindness to everyone, and Hanfeizi about rules and laws. Daoist books like the Dao De Jing, Zhuangzi, and Liezi also share wise ideas. One famous book about war is The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which gives advice on strategy and working with other countries.

Historical texts, dictionaries and encyclopedias

Main article: Chinese historiography

Further information: Category:Encyclopedias in Chinese and Chinese dictionary

Sima Qian laid the ground for professional Chinese historiography more than 2,000 years ago.

The Chinese people kept careful records of their history and life for a very long time. One of the earliest books about Chinaโ€™s past is called the Zuo Zhuan, which was written down by a blind historian named Zuo Qiuming around 389 BC. Another important book is the Book of Documents, which includes early maps and stories from Chinaโ€™s past.

China also has many old dictionaries. The oldest one is the Erya, made around the 3rd century BC. Later, big books like the Shiji by Sima Qian told the whole story of Chinaโ€™s history. These books helped people learn about the past for thousands of years.

China also made huge books that tried to contain all the knowledge of their time. One of these is the Yongle Encyclopedia from the 1400s, which had 50 million words. Even bigger books came later, like the Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China from 1726, which had more than 100 million words!

Classical poetry

Main article: Classical Chinese poetry

Bai Juyi (772โ€“846), a famous Tang dynasty poet and statesman

Chinese poetry has a very long and rich history. It began with two important collections. In northern China, the Shijing or Classic of Poetry (around the 11th to 7th century BC) contains over 300 poems. These poems vary in style, from folk music-like songs to formal hymns. The word shi means poem or poetry and describes one of China's lyrical poetic styles. The philosopher Confucius is said to have helped edit the Shijing. Its poems often start with nature scenes and then express feelings.

From southern China comes the Chuci, linked to the poet Qu Yuan and his follower Song Yu. These poems are more emotional, sometimes sad, and describe imaginary scenes. Both the Shijing and the Chuci have influenced Chinese poetry for thousands of years.

During the Han dynasty (206 BC โ€“ 220 AD), a new style of poetry called fu developed. This was a mix of prose and poetry. Another style, yuefu, used folk songs as inspiration. Later, during the Tang dynasty (618โ€“907 AD), poetry reached new heights. Famous poets like Li Bai and Du Fu wrote beautiful poems about nature and life. The Tang dynasty was a golden age for poetry.

The Song dynasty (960โ€“1279) saw the growth of a new poetry form called ci. This style used set patterns and meters. The Yuan dynasty (1279โ€“1368) brought opera influences to poetry, creating the sanqu style. Throughout the Ming (1368โ€“1644) and Qing (1644โ€“1911) dynasties, poetry remained a popular skill for educated people, with many poems preserved from this time.

Classical prose

Early Chinese prose was shaped by important philosophical writings from the Hundred Schools of Thought (770โ€“221ย BC). Writers like Mozi, Mencius, and Zhuang Zhou created clear and well-organized works. Their writing style was simple and direct, and it influenced literature for many centuries. These works were written in Classical Chinese, which reflected the language spoken during the Spring and Autumn period.

A Ming dynasty Dehua porcelain sculpture of Wenchang Wang, a Chinese deity of literature

During the Tang dynasty, prose changed to become more straightforward and powerful, inspired by earlier writers from the Hundred Schools and the Han dynasty. This style lasted for many years and was used by famous writers like Han Yu. In the Song dynasty, travel literature became popular, mixing diary and story forms. After the 14th century, stories written in everyday language grew in popularity, with Dream of the Red Chamber being a famous example.

Classical fiction and drama

Chinese stories began with old tales and histories, such as Tale of King Mu, Son of Heaven and In Search of the Supernatural. Over time, these stories evolved into longer novels. Chinese readers liked stories that focused on history, moral lessons, and the welfare of society. With the growth of cities and better printing, novels became more personal and explored deeper ideas about life and society. The novels from the late Ming dynasty and early Qing dynasty were rich and full of new ideas.

Modern literature

See also: Modern Chinese poetry

Scholars now tend to agree that modern Chinese literature did not erupt suddenly in the New Culture Movement (1910sโ€“1920s). Instead, they trace its origins back at least to the late Qing period (1895โ€“1911) and at most to the 17th century.

Late Qing (1895โ€“1911)

The late Qing was a period of intellectual change sparked by a sense of national crisis. Around the beginning of the 20th century, reform-minded thinkers used fiction to critique politics and history. Around this time, intellectuals began to look for solutions outside of China's own traditions. They translated works of Western writing and literature, which excited readers with new ideas and cultures. This led to a boom in fiction writing, especially after the civil service examination was abolished in 1905. The fiction from this time showed both Chinese and Western influences.

Republican Era (1912โ€“49)

After the Qing Dynasty ended in 1911, popular love stories were common, written in both classical and modern Chinese. During the New Culture Movement in the 1910s and 1920s, modern Chinese replaced classical Chinese in literature. Writers like Lu Xun were among the first to use the new modern style.

In the 1920s and 1930s, new forms of drama emerged. Peking opera remained popular, and new plays were written in both Western and traditional styles.

Maoist Era (1949โ€“76)

After the Communists came to power in 1949, the publishing industry was nationalized, and writers were brought under strict control. Literature was made to follow political goals, and many writers faced criticism or punishment if they did not follow the rules.

Inside Chongwen Book City, a large bookstore in Wuhan

Opening and reform (1978โ€“1989)

After reforms began in 1978, writers were able to explore new styles and subjects. Literature from this time often looked back at the difficult years of the past and expressed new freedoms.

Post-Tiananmen (1989โ€“present)

After 1989, China's culture industry became more commercialized. Writers began to explore a wide range of topics, and many new voices emerged. Women writers became more prominent, and different styles of writing flourished.

Online literature

Main article: Chinese online literature

In recent years, online literature has become very important in China. Many popular stories are read online, often for a small cost. Platforms like Qidian and Jinjiang Literature City have helped authors share their work with millions of readers. These platforms allow writers to earn money through royalties or salaries, and readers can interact with authors through comments and ratings.

Book market

China buys many foreign books, and the book market has grown steadily. However, the government controls what can be published, and some books are banned or published underground. Despite this, many Chinese authors have found success internationally.

Impact of translation on modern and contemporary Chinese writers

Translated literature has always been important in China. Many famous Chinese writers were also translators, and they often found inspiration in works from other countries.

Survey books about Chinese literature

Modern books that give an overview of Chinese literature started appearing around the year 1900.

The first two known books were written by authors from Japan and published in the Japanese language. Kojล Tandล wrote a 700-page book called Shina bungakushi (โ€œHistory of Chinese Literatureโ€) in 1897. Sasakawa Rinpลซ wrote another book with the same title in 1898.

The first book in English was A History of Chinese Literature, written by Herbert Giles and published in 1901. In 1904, a book called Zhongguo wenxue shi by Lin Chuanjia became the first survey book written in Chinese.

Later, The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature, edited by Kang-i Sun Chang and Stephen Owen, became an important two-volume work published in 2010 by the Cambridge University Press. In 2017, Harvard University Press published a book called A New Literary History of Modern China, edited by David Der-wei Wang, which includes many scholarly essays about Chinese literature from the 17th century to today.

Contemporary Chinese literature in translation

Chinese literature is now more accessible than ever, with many websites helping readers find books and stories. Some popular sites include Paper Republic, Writing Chinese, Chinese Short Stories, and My Chinese Books).

In 2005, the Chinese government began supporting the translation of certain Chinese books into other languages. This effort has led to over 200 books being translated and shared with readers around the world.

Selected modern Chinese writers

Here are some important modern writers from China:

Writers of Chinese heritage who write in other languages

See also List of Asian-American writers, Chinese American literature

Chinese writers writing in English:

Chinese writers writing in French:

Images

Two book icons symbolizing reading and learning.

Related articles

Han dynasty
Tang dynasty
Song dynasty
Taoism
History of China
I Ching

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Chinese literature, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.