International Conference on Classical Literature: East and WestInternational Conference on Classical Literature: East and WestKaraikudiKaraikudi: Department of English and Foreign Languages, : Department of English and Foreign Languages, AlagappaAlagappa University, University, 2626--27 March 2008.27 March 2008.

Classification Classification ofof

Classical Literature:Classical Literature:Chinese and the WestChinese and the West

Tee BoonTee Boon--ChuanChuan, PhD.,, PhD.,Malaysian Centre for Ethnic Studies,Malaysian Centre for Ethnic Studies,

New Era CollegeNew Era College--MALAYSIA.MALAYSIA.

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The classical literature in ChinaThe classical literature in ChinaRefers broadly to the literature in PreRefers broadly to the literature in Pre--QinQindynasties consisting of dynasties consisting of XiaXia, Shan and Zhou , Shan and Zhou from ca. 2070 from ca. 2070 BCEBCE to 256 to 256 BCEBCE;;But narrowly But narrowly refers to the literature of two refers to the literature of two late periods in Zhou dynastylate periods in Zhou dynasty, that is, , that is, The The Spring and Autumn PeriodSpring and Autumn Period (770 (770 BCEBCE--476 476 BCEBCE) ) and and Warring States PeriodWarring States Period (475 (475 BCEBCE--221 221 BCEBCE).).The The classical literature comprisesclassical literature comprises 1,033 1,033 books in 13,029 volumes which makes up books in 13,029 volumes which makes up about about 0.82% of the0.82% of the 126,649 books with 126,649 books with 1,700,000 volumes on 1,700,000 volumes on traditional literaturetraditional literature..

Fourfold division of Fourfold division of classificationclassificationThe classical literature has been The classical literature has been classified classified into four divisions, classical, historical, into four divisions, classical, historical, specialised professional and literaryspecialised professional and literary::i. i. classicalclassical ((jingjing) consists of Confucian ) consists of Confucian Six Six ClassicsClassics and finally and finally Thirteen ClassicsThirteen Classics in in historyhistoryii. ii. historicalhistorical ((shishi) ) --iii. iii. specialised professionalspecialised professional ((zizi, often , often translated by others as translated by others as philosophyphilosophy) includes ) includes Confucianism, Daoism, Legalists, Confucianism, Daoism, Legalists, Agriculturalists, Military Strategists, Novelists Agriculturalists, Military Strategists, Novelists (later, Buddhism, Islam , etc). (later, Buddhism, Islam , etc). iv. iv. literaryliterary ((jiji) ) --

The dual status of ConfucianismThe dual status of ConfucianismConfucian literature is made up of two Confucian literature is made up of two categories:categories:i. i. specialised professionalspecialised professional literature as literature as well as Daoism, Legalists , etc.;well as Daoism, Legalists , etc.;ii. ii. classicalclassical literature;literature;

It means that It means that ConfucianConfucian rather than rather than DaoistDaoist or other literatures or other literatures being being considered as a repository of truth for considered as a repository of truth for the Chinesethe Chinese. .

The nature of Confucian literatureThe nature of Confucian literature(1)(1)According to Aristotle (384 BCEAccording to Aristotle (384 BCE--322 BCE), 322 BCE), the Prethe Pre--Roman classical literatureRoman classical literature in the West in the West could be could be divided into three divisionsdivided into three divisions::i. i. theoretical sciencetheoretical science, writings related to the , writings related to the subjects on beings subjects on beings exist by natureexist by nature, including , including theology, philosophy, mathematics and theology, philosophy, mathematics and natural sciences;natural sciences;ii. ii. practical sciencepractical science, writings on various , writings on various human behaviours, including ethics, human behaviours, including ethics, economics, political science;economics, political science;iii. iii. productive scienceproductive science, writings on man, writings on man--made made crafts and arts, include medicine, building, crafts and arts, include medicine, building, rhetoric, poem , etc. rhetoric, poem , etc.

The nature of Confucian literatureThe nature of Confucian literature(2)(2)ConfucianConfucian literature related neither to literature related neither to theoretical nor productive interest, but its theoretical nor productive interest, but its primary concern was mainly practicalprimary concern was mainly practical::i. The i. The Collection of the TextsCollection of the Texts and and The The Spring and Autumn AnnalsSpring and Autumn Annals are historical are historical classics because it views classics because it views history as a set of history as a set of didactic ideasdidactic ideas that could be provided by a that could be provided by a study on the virtuous or evil conduct from the study on the virtuous or evil conduct from the early kings;early kings;ii. The same practical function could be found ii. The same practical function could be found in other Confucian nonin other Confucian non--historical classics on historical classics on lexicology, literature, politics, ethics, rites lexicology, literature, politics, ethics, rites and metaphysics.and metaphysics.

In comparison with the WestIn comparison with the WestThe Chinese classical literature was under the The Chinese classical literature was under the lead of Confucian practical literature, in lead of Confucian practical literature, in comparison with the West which stresses on comparison with the West which stresses on theoretical science literature. This means that:theoretical science literature. This means that:

Under Confucian influence all serious Under Confucian influence all serious literature was bound to be didacticliterature was bound to be didactic, and it , and it was literature which provided the models of was literature which provided the models of behaviour which Confucian education behaviour which Confucian education taught taught men to imitatemen to imitate. Apart from the Classics the . Apart from the Classics the other three branches of literature also had a other three branches of literature also had a didactic functiondidactic function..