Asian Literature Overview – Practice Flashcards

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These flashcards cover the major dynasties, literary works, influential authors, and defining characteristics of Chinese, Indian, and Japanese literature as presented in the lecture notes.

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39 Terms

1
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What countries are primarily studied under Asian literature according to the notes?

China, India, Japan, and other small surrounding nations.

2
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Which Chinese dynasty is regarded as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, dating back to about 1765 B.C.?

The Shang Dynasty.

3
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By what nickname is China often referred to in the notes?

“The Red Dragon.”

4
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Which Chinese dynasty (1122 – 256 B.C.) fostered great intellectual activity and saw the rise of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism?

The Chou (Zhou) Dynasty.

5
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Which dynasty replaced Legalism with Confucianism while strengthening China’s bureaucracy?

The Han Dynasty.

6
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Name the five Chinese classics traditionally attributed to Confucius’s era.

Book of Changes, Book of History, Book of Rites, Book of Odes, Spring and Autumn Annals.

7
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Which classic is also called the I Ching and is used for divination with hexagrams?

The Classic of Changes (Yijing).

8
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Which classic contains 305 poems that reveal ancient Chinese customs and emotions?

The Classic of Poetry (Shijing / Book of Odes).

9
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Which classic provides accounts of early Chinese rulers and is considered the oldest narrative prose?

The Classic of History (Shujing).

10
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Which classic outlines ancient rituals and social norms, guiding proper conduct?

The Classic of Rites (Liji).

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Which classic chronicles events in the State of Lu between 722 – 481 B.C.?

Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu).

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What is Confucius’s Chinese name, and what do its parts signify?

Kung Fu-tze: Kung (family name), Fu (revered), tze (teacher).

13
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Which 8th-century Chinese poet celebrated love, friendship, wine, and nature in vivid verse?

Li Po (Li Tai Po).

14
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Which Chinese poet (722 – 846) is noted for representing classical tradition, politics, and morality?

Po Chu-I.

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By what phrase is India described in the lecture notes?

“Land of prayer.”

16
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What dominant characteristic underlies most Indian literature?

A spirit of piety and deep religious feeling.

17
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Who were the earliest known inhabitants of India, dating to roughly 3000 – 2500 B.C.?

The Dravidians.

18
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What does the word “Sanskrit” literally mean?

Cultivated or perfected.

19
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What collection is regarded as the ‘Bible of the Indians’?

The Vedas.

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Which Veda consists of hymns praising the gods, comparable to Old Testament Psalms?

Rig-Veda.

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What are the Upanishads primarily composed of?

Sketches, explanations, and critical comments on the religious ideas suggested by the Rig-Veda.

22
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Name the two great Indian epics and briefly state the focus of each.

Ramayana – recounts Vishnu’s incarnation as Rama; Mahabharata – centers on Vishnu’s incarnation as Krishna and is India’s greatest epic.

23
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What term is used for the incarnations of Vishnu in Hindu belief?

Avatars.

24
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Who is considered the first great name in Indian drama, with 13 plays attributed to him?

Bhasa.

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Which playwright, called the brightest of the ‘nine gems of genius,’ wrote Shakuntala?

Kalidasa.

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What is the central plot of Kalidasa’s play Shakuntala?

A king meets and falls in love with the maiden Shakuntala while hunting in the woods.

27
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Which ancient Indian work is said to contain the world’s earliest fables involving talking animals?

The Panchatantra.

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Which Indian writer received the 1913 Nobel Prize for Literature and was knighted in 1915?

Rabindranath Tagore.

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What is Japan often called, reflecting its eastern location?

“The Land of the Rising Sun.”

30
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Name the two earliest Japanese historical works (with their dates).

Kojiki – Records of Ancient Matters (A.D. 712) and Nihongi – Chronicles of Japan (A.D. 720).

31
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How many characters are in Japan’s basic Katakana syllabary?

47 characters.

32
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List the three traditional types of Japanese drama.

Noh, Joruri (puppet play), and Kabuki.

33
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Which form of Japanese theater is considered the national theater and noted for its highly stylized performance?

Noh play.

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In which Japanese drama are life-size, expertly manipulated puppets used?

Joruri or puppet (doll) theater.

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Which Japanese drama is more realistic and popular with the masses?

Kabuki play.

36
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What is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled around A.D. 800?

Manyo Shu (Collection of Myriad Leaves).

37
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Define a haiku’s structure.

A 17-syllable poem in three lines of 5-7-5 syllables.

38
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Define a tanka’s structure.

A 31-syllable poem in five lines; pattern: 5-7-5-7-7 syllables.

39
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Who said, “Literature is a comprehensive essence of the intellectual life of a nation”?

William Shakespeare (quoted in the notes).