what is southeast asia literature

Southeast Asian literature, as with all literature, is a reflection of the society that it comes from. However what makes literature from this subcontinent quite so fascinating is not only the variety that can be found – each country is so markedly different from the next – but also its bursting history.

Full Answer

How many countries are there in Southeast Asian literature?

Southeast Asian Literature 1 Thailand 2 Indonesia 3 Myanmar 4 Vietnam 5 Philippines 6 Southeast Asian Literature 7 Spanish Colonial Influence • One of the influences that a Western country imposes to the Philippines; it influences the Arts, Music, History and Literature of the Philippines. More items...

Is there any vernacular literature in Southeast Asia?

Although the monks in the Theravada Buddhist (i.e., the Southeast Asian form of Buddhism) monasteries produced a few works in Pali, no vernacular literature emerged until finally Khmer-speaking people (those living in the area comprised approximately of modern Cambodia) were borrowing many words from the Tai.

What is the history of literary criticism in Southeast Asia?

Literary criticism, as understood in Western cultures, had never been known, either in the ancient or modern literatures of Southeast Asia. Apart from a few stray writings on versification, therefore, no works of literary criticism or literary history existed until the colonial period.

What are some of the best books about Southeast Asia?

This is an introduction to some of the books and novels written about Southeast Asia . At war with Asia by Noam Chomsky. Describes the American- Vietnam War, and the bombing campaigns on neighboring countries. Democracy by Joan Didion. Set in Southeast Asia (and Hawaii) at the end of the Vietnam War.

How would you describe Southeast Asia literature?

In Southeast Asia, literature is not bound by books. Early on, oral traditions, riddles, puns, proverbs, legends, and stories of cosmologies were etched into the minds of listeners. Only later were tales set in the form of stone inscriptions and bas-reliefs.

How would you describe the literature in Asia?

Asian poetry is typically lyrical, as in it deals with the grand scheme of emotions. A sub-type of lyrical poetry is the ode, which we can see in some religious texts. Asian poetry is also usually formed in narratives or story-telling verses like epics.

What is Southeast Asia known for?

Southeast Asia is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, and for a reason. Some of the countries here have it all: a tropical climate, warm (or hot!) all year around, rich culture, gorgeous beaches, wonderful food and last but not least, low prices.

What contains the literature of Asia?

In addition to literary texts, Literatures of Asia includes selections from religious and philosophical texts that have literary merit, such as the Rig Veda; the Upanishads; Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist texts; the Bhagavad-Gita; classical Indian devotional (bhakti) verse; the Analects of Confucius; the Dao-De Jing; ...

What is the major source of traditional literature in the Southeast Asia?

At a later period, Buddhism reached mainland Southeast Asia. Its influence was a major source of traditional literature in the Buddhist countries of Southeast Asia. Vietnam, under Chinese rule, was influenced by Chinese and Indian literature. Indonesia and Malaysia were influenced by Islam and its literature.

Why is it relevant to study and understand Asean literature?

ASEAN Literature helps us to be aware of our diversity and commonality. Literature is a story of man. It is their significant human experiences.

What is the culture of Southeast Asia?

With more than 650 million people living in the region, majority of them follow Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam with other religions like Christianity, Confucionism, Taoism and Animism existing as minorities amongst a few countries.

Why is it called Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, south-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of Mainland China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and north of Australia.

What is Southeast Asia called?

The northern portion is known as Mainland Southeast Asia, or Indochina, situated on the Indochinese peninsula; it comprises the countries of Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia), Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The second region is known as the Malay Archipelago or Maritime Southeast Asia.

What are the characteristics of literature in East Asia?

East Asian poetry is a rich literary genre that contains unique linguistic forms, styles, and aesthetics. Poetry has been significant in the development of literary topics and expressions, often inspiring new forms and images.

What are the common themes in the literature of Asia?

Common themes in Asian American literature include race, culture, and finding a sense of identity. While these topics can be subjective, some of the pinpointed ideas tie into gender, sexuality, age, establishing traditional and adaptive culture, and Western racism towards Asians.

What are the common themes in the literature of Asia?

Common themes in Asian American literature include race, culture, and finding a sense of identity. While these topics can be subjective, some of the pinpointed ideas tie into gender, sexuality, age, establishing traditional and adaptive culture, and Western racism towards Asians.

What is the meaning of Chinese literature?

Chinese literature, the body of works written in Chinese, including lyric poetry, historical and didactic writing, drama, and various forms of fiction. Sima Qian. Key People: Ezra Pound Hu Shih Ban Gu Lu Xun Ouyang Xiu Related Topics: zaju huaju lüshi yuefu nanxi.

What is the characteristics of African literature?

Characteristics of African literature include slave narratives, protests against colonization, calls for independence, African pride, hope for the future, and dissent.

What are the characteristics of European literature?

Key characteristics of this period include an interest in the common man and childhood, emotions and feelings, the awe of nature, emphasis on the individual, myths, and the importance of the imagination. Instead of the scientific view of the universe as a machine, romanticism saw it as organic, such as a living tree.

General

At war with Asia by Noam Chomsky. Describes the American- Vietnam War, and the bombing campaigns on neighboring countries.

Philippines

Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal. Sparked the independence struggle from Spanish colonialism.

What are the features of Southeast Asia?

A second feature of maritime Southeast Asia is the seas themselves . Apart from a few deep underwater trenches, the oceans are shallow, which means they are rather warm and not very saline. This is an ideal environment for fish, coral, seaweeds, and other products. Though the seas in some areas are rough, the region as a whole, except for the Philippines, is generally free of hurricanes and typhoons. However, there are many active volcanoes and the island world is very vulnerable to earthquake activity.

What are the similarities between Southeast Asia and Asia?

Virtually all of Southeast Asia lies between the tropics, and so there are similarities in climate as well as plant and animal life throughout the region. Temperatures are generally warm, although it is cooler in highland areas. Many sea and jungle products are unique to the region, and were therefore much desired by international traders in early times. For example, several small islands in eastern Indonesia were once the world’s only source of cloves, nutmeg, and mace. The entire region is affected by the monsoon winds, which blow regularly from the northwest and then reverse to blow from the southeast. These wind systems bring fairly predictable rainy seasons, and before steamships were invented, these wind systems also enabled traders from outside the region to arrive and leave at regular intervals. Because of this reliable wind pattern, Southeast Asia became a meeting place for trade between India and China, the two great markets of early Asia.

What are the physical features of mainland and island Southeast Asia?

There are some differences in the physical environment of mainland and island Southeast Asia. The first feature of mainland geography is the long rivers that begin in the highlands separating Southeast Asia from China and northwest India. A second feature is the extensive lowland plains separated by forested hills and mountain ranges.

How many countries are there in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia consists of eleven countries that reach from eastern India to China, and is generally divided into “mainland” and “island” zones. The mainland (Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam) is actually an extension of the Asian continent. Muslims can be found in all mainland countries, but the most significant populations are in ...

How did the physical environment affect the political structures that developed in Southeast Asia?

Differences in the physical environment affected the political structures that developed in Southeast Asia. When people were nomadic or semi-nomadic, it was difficult to construct a permanent governing system with stable bureaucracies and a reliable tax base. This type of state only developed in areas where there was a settled population, like the large rice-growing plains of the mainland and Java. However, even the most powerful of these states found it difficult to extend their authority into remote highlands and islands.

How did cultural changes affect Southeast Asia?

Cultural changes began to affect Southeast Asia around two thousand years ago with influences coming from two directions. Chinese expansion south of the Yangtze River eventually led to the colonization of Vietnam.

Why are women in Southeast Asia more equal to men?

Due to a number of factors—low populations, the late arrival of the world religions , a lack of urbanization, descent through both male and female lines —women in Southeast Asia are generally seen as more equal to men that in neighboring areas like China and India.

Overview

This is an introduction to some of the books and novels written about Southeast Asia.

General

Burma (Myanmar)

Cambodia

Indonesia

Malaysia

Philippines

Vietnam