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Vernacular Literature in China

Vernacular Literature in China. Brought to you by Group One Angela Baldwin, Ellie Shoup , Jon King, Julie Ressler , Shannon Farmer. Mongols Attack!. After conquering north China, they conquered the Southern Sung Dynasty Functioned similarly to Chinese imperial government

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Vernacular Literature in China

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  1. Vernacular Literature in China Brought to you by Group One Angela Baldwin, Ellie Shoup, Jon King, Julie Ressler, Shannon Farmer

  2. Mongols Attack! • After conquering north China, they conquered the Southern Sung Dynasty • Functioned similarly to Chinese imperial government • Contempt for Confucian principles • Suspended examination system • Classical lit never regained its significant role • Although still important to intellectuals • Vernacular began to be published

  3. Characteristics of Vernacular Lit • Lacked subtlety of classical lit • Sex • Violence • Satire • Humor • Elaborated on classical sources • Filled in details • Closed gaps • Interrelated stories • New virtues, failings • ex) 2 pages = 30 pages or even 1,000

  4. Popular Works in the Vernacular • Historical Romances • The Romance of the Three Kingdoms • Dry historical account turned into “dazzling saga of battles and clever stratagems” • Murder Mysteries • Often based on recent cases • “Judge Pao” functioned as what we would call a modern detective • Novels • Water Margin • Monkey

  5. Vernacular Lit Against the World • Neo-Confucianism • Attempt to discover philosophy behind Confucian classics • Rigid strictures on self-cultivation and ethical behavior • Failed to address common life • Vernacular literature celebrated • liberty • violent energy • passion

  6. King Arthur and the Monkey King • MorteDarthur by Malory • combines legends of European Middle Ages • Monkey • Breakthrough text written in Vernacular Chinese • Represents retelling and elaboration of materials • Evolved over many centuries • Final form attributed to Wu Ch’eng-en

  7. Historical Basis for Monkey • Journey of Hsüan Tsang (aka “Tripitaka”) • Buddhist monk • Traveled from China to India • Searching for Buddhist scriptures • He wrote an account of his travels • Stories based off of this account may have been what evolved into Monkey

  8. Why does this matter? Monkey is an important work of literature because it represents the changes that were occurring within the Chinese culture during the Ming Dynasty. Vernacular literature allowed more people to relate to written stories. In a sense, it made room for pop culture. It continues to be told in a way that is relevant to people even today. The form of “vernacular” has changed with the times, but the story remains just as powerful.

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