Asian and Pacific Islander Literature Foundations

Asian and Pacific Islander Geography

Many researchers classify countries from the Middle East as Asian countries. However, since previous modules covered Middle Eastern and Indian literature, this module will focus on Eastern Asia.

Eastern Asia consists of China, Hong Kong, Macao, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Mongolia. Southeast Asia countries have also been included. For example, countries such as Bhutan (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are also a part of Eastern Asia.

Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. Countries that fall into the Pacific Islander are also called Oceania. Oceania is essentially a continent comprising Australia and the islands close to Australia (Fiji, New Guinea, Philippines).

Overview of Asian and Pacific Islander History

East Asia has ruled through dynasties, or a sequence of rulers from the same family. Dynasties would change when they were overthrown, and each dynasty brought something different to the region.

China

Qin Dynasty in China

China was brought together as a unified country in 221 BC with the Qin dynasty. All books were burned, scholars were buried alive, and the ruler, Qin Shi Huang, established certain writing and currency. The Qin dynasty also started building the Great Wall of China to deter invasions.

Han Dynasty in China

In 206 BC, the Han dynasty overthrew the Qin dynasty. China is known for many advances during this dynasty, such as the Silk Road. The Silk Road was important for trade in and out of China. However, the road was also a pathway for intruders (such as the Turk-Mongols in Central Asia). In AD 184, the Han dynasty divided into the Three Kingdoms.

Three Kingdoms

Three different people declared themselves leaders of China, and battles continued to find a true leader. Eventually, China was again unified under the Sui dynasty around 581 AD.

End of Dynastic Rule in China

In 1912, the Qing dynasty was the last dynasty to rule in China. After suffering from imperialism at the hands of the British, China became the People's Republic of China. Under certain leaders throughout the 1900s, China's people suffered starvation and experienced a lack of freedom due to the Communist political leaders.

Japan

Japan has different eras instead of the dynastic rule that China has. The feudal era in Japan was known for the ruling warriors—the samurai warriors. Many people, due to their skills and power, feared these warriors.

In 1854, Japan became a centralized state and in the early 20^th century, Japan expanded and became more focused on military. In 1936, Japan signed up to be on the side of Russia and Germany during World War II and attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor led to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which pushed Japan, destroyed, to surrender on August 15^th of the same year.

In 1947, Japan adopted a constitution that focused on having a democracy. and now holds a constitutional monarchy where the monarchy acts solely as a figurehead (similar to England).

Korea

Korea was unified and divided throughout history and suffered invasion by the Mongols in the 13^th century. However, there was a period of 200 years where Korea experienced peace. Unfortunately, Korea's isolationist policy caused other countries to want to take over, and Japan took over Korea in 1910 until around 1945.

In 1945, when World War II ended, the Soviet Union and United States agreed that Japan would leave Korea, but this agreement left northern Korea under Soviet occupation and southern Korea under U.S. occupation. The two countries could not agree on the terms of Korean independence, so each part of Korea established their own governments.

Today, North Korea has a dictator who demands concentration camps for anyone who defies him and allows people in his country to starve from famine. Around 240,000 to 420,000 people died from the famine in the 1990s and from 1993-2008, there were 600,000 to 850,000 unnatural deaths in North Korea because the dictator has the ability to do what he chooses. On the other hand, South Korea has a growing economy and a solid government.

East Asian Religions and Philosophies

Confucianism

For example, religion and philosophy changed depending on who was ruling the dynasty. Confucianism, or ancestor worship came about in the 5^th century BC from the Zhou Dynasty. Although Confucianism was forbidden in China during the Qin Dynasty, and faded at times, the philosophy still continues. Confucianism is very popular in China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and other East Asian countries.

Taoism

Taoism is the third major form of religion in East Asia. Tao means "the way", and the goal is to find enlightenment and become one with nature. Taoism believes in following the Tao to gain balance in life, but the philosophy believes in multiple gods and the option of following other philosophies or religions at the same time.

Buddhism

Buddhism is another major religion in East Asia that originated in India and came to China from Nepal in the 1^st century BC. Buddhism, as covered in the previous module, focuses on finding Nirvana and ultimate peace. Buddhism was then introduced to Korea and Japan.

Asian and Pacific Islander Literature

The many areas in East Asia have widely varying literary traditions. However, poetry is one literary tradition that the majority of East Asian literature shares. Along with poetry, throughout the various time periods in East Asia, fiction, nonfiction, drama, and art also reveal the important traditions and themes the countries hold in high regard. East Asian culture has always valued nature and tradition, so many themes relating to nature and tradition carry over into the literature.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.