Asian literature

Continental literary tradition

Asian literature encompasses written works from Asia—a vast category spanning Chinese classical poetry, Japanese novels, Indian epics, Persian verse, and countless other traditions across the continent.

The term usually appears in academic contexts: Asian literature courses, a survey of Asian literature.

Because Asia contains radically diverse cultures and languages, the category groups works that may share little beyond continental origin.

Related

wandering monk · poetry · drama · waka · oral tradition · Fables · short story · calligraphy · prose · temple · jade · brush · lotus · dragon · tiger mother · ink · manga · folktale

Opposites
geographic/cultural origin

Asian literatureWestern literature

Euro-American written tradition

European literature · Western canon · American literature · British literature · French literature

canonical status in western academia

Asian literatureWestern canon

Influential European literary tradition

Great Books · classical canon

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literature, Asia

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