Classical
Chinese Literature Resources
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Greek culture began its journey into philosophy, literature,
and historography in the Mediterranean Basin. In Asia, China
had a head-start in terms of its artistic achievements.
In some ways, there are striking parallels between the two
cultures. Both experienced periods of warfare at roughly
similar times in their development. Both explored similar
philosophical problems in their writings.
However, the two cultures took very different approaches
to these undertakings. Literature in the Western tradition
flowers first with lengthy narrative epics, such as the
Homeric writings. On the other hand, Chinese
Poetry begins with a collection of short, brief poems.
Greek culture is one of individuality and fragmentation,
each island surrounded and joined to the other by the watery
sea which was both a barrier and an aquatic highway. Its
literature is one of travel, trade, and exploration. China,
however, sprawls across a single continent, separated by
distance and geography from non-Asiatic cultures. Its history
is one in which the Chinese people strive for political
unity under a single emperor, with the small "warring
states" gradually devouring each other until only one
survives. Greek culture emphasizes the exploits of the individual,
and praises innovation, aggression, and logic. Chinese culture
emphasizes the exploits of the nation-state, the values
of conformity to tradition, and the duties of filial piety
(obedience to the family, respect for one's elders, and
the honors due to the spirits of the dead).
