wenyan
Quick Summary
Wenyan, also known as classical Chinese, is the complex literary style used in classical Chinese literature. It served as a common written language across various Chinese dialects before the 20th century, facilitating cultural unity despite spoken differences. While historically dominant, wenyan has been largely replaced by vernacular Chinese (baihua) in modern writing, though it persists in some scholarly circles. The written nature of Chinese characters, rather than an alphabet, has influenced its literature, making it visually appealing and contributing to the art of calligraphy.1234
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Chinese languagesā¦a common literary language (wenyan), written in characters and based on a common body of literature. This literary language has no single standard of pronunciation; a speaker of a language reads texts according to the rules of pronunciation of his own language. Before 1917 the wenyan was used forā¦
Read Moreā¦a common literary language (wenyan), written in characters and based on a common body of literature. This literary language has no single standard of pronunciation; a speaker of a language reads texts according to the rules of pronunciation of his own language. Before 1917 the wenyan was used forā¦
Read More- Chinese languagesPost-Classical Chinese
ā¦Classical Chinese (also known as wenyan) was rejected as the standard written language. (Hu Shi also led the vernacular literature movement of 1917; his program for literary reform appeared on Jan. 1, 1917.) The new written idiom has gained ground faster in literature than in science, but there can beā¦
Read Moreā¦Classical Chinese (also known as wenyan) was rejected as the standard written language. (Hu Shi also led the vernacular literature movement of 1917; his program for literary reform appeared on Jan. 1, 1917.) The new written idiom has gained ground faster in literature than in science, but there can beā¦
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Chinese literatureGeneral characteristicsā¦or literary, prose (guwen, or wenyan) aims at the standards and styles set by ancient writers and their distinguished followers of subsequent ages, with the Confucian Classics and the early philosophers as supreme models. While the styles may vary with individual writers, the language is always far removed from theirā¦
Read Moreā¦or literary, prose (guwen, or wenyan) aims at the standards and styles set by ancient writers and their distinguished followers of subsequent ages, with the Confucian Classics and the early philosophers as supreme models. While the styles may vary with individual writers, the language is always far removed from theirā¦
Read More- Chinese literatureProse
ā¦empire, a standard literary language, wenyan, was promoted from the Han dynasty on. Perpetuated for more than 2,000 years, the literary language failed to keep pace with changes in the spoken tongue, and eventually it became almost unintelligible to the illiterate masses.
Read Moreā¦empire, a standard literary language, wenyan, was promoted from the Han dynasty on. Perpetuated for more than 2,000 years, the literary language failed to keep pace with changes in the spoken tongue, and eventually it became almost unintelligible to the illiterate masses.
Read More - Korean literature
ā¦by Koreans, at first in Classical Chinese, later in various transcription systems using Chinese characters, and finally in Hangul (Korean: hanāgÅl; Hankul in the Yale romanization), the national alphabet.
Read Moreā¦by Koreans, at first in Classical Chinese, later in various transcription systems using Chinese characters, and finally in Hangul (Korean: hanāgÅl; Hankul in the Yale romanization), the national alphabet.
Read More - Korean literatureAncient times
ā¦bce; āOriolesā Songā), composed in Chinese, is a well-known example. āHwangjo ka,ā which is thought to be the first lyric poem in Korean literature, evokes the personal loneliness of the unfortunate KoguryÅ king Yuri.
Read Moreā¦bce; āOriolesā Songā), composed in Chinese, is a well-known example. āHwangjo ka,ā which is thought to be the first lyric poem in Korean literature, evokes the personal loneliness of the unfortunate KoguryÅ king Yuri.
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