Individual Asian Philosophy And Literature Paper

Individual Asian Philosophy and Literature Paper The philosophy of Confucius permeates Asian culture and literature

The philosophy of Confucius permeates Asian culture and literature. In this paper, you identify major themes from Confucian thinking found in Asian American literature. Select three or more texts from this week’s readings. Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper that addresses the following: identify the Confucian themes—family, honor, loyalty, and so forth—in the literature you selected; how do those themes relate to the historical, socio-political, and cultural contexts of the text; why do you think that Confucianism is still present within Asian American literature; and how do the themes you’ve selected differ from or align with traditional American canon. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Paper For Above instruction

Confucianism, founded by Confucius in the 5th century BCE, has deeply influenced Asian cultures, shaping philosophies surrounding social harmony, familial reverence, loyalty, and moral integrity. Its persistence in Asian American literature demonstrates the enduring influence of these principles amid the complex diasporic experience. This essay examines three texts from recent Asian American literary spaces to elucidate how Confucian themes manifest, how they are anchored within historical and socio-political contexts, and why they remain salient today. Finally, the comparison with the traditional American canon highlights both divergences and alignments in thematic preoccupations concerning family, honor, and societal values.

The first text, "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan, vividly illustrates Confucian principles such as filial piety and respect for elders. The narrative revolves around Chinese immigrant families in America, emphasizing honoring ancestors and maintaining familial bonds across generations. Tan’s portrayal underscores how immigrant families uphold Confucian values as a means of cultural preservation amid acculturation pressures. Historically, this emphasis is rooted in the Chinese cultural context where filial duty secures social harmony and moral order (Hwang, 2008). In the socio-political landscape of immigrant assimilation, these themes serve as both a source of strength and a source of conflict, as traditional expectations sometimes clash with American individualism (Kwok, 2012).

The second text, "Greed" by Chong Kim, explores themes of loyalty and integrity within Korean-American communities. The protagonist’s allegiance to familial and community expectations reflects Confucian notions of moral duty and social harmony. The socio-political context of racial discrimination and economic marginalization in America amplifies the importance of maintaining loyalty to one's community and cultural roots (Kim, 2010). This narrative demonstrates how Confucian ideals function as resilience mechanisms, fostering social cohesion in diasporic communities facing external adversity (Lee, 2014).

The third text, "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee, offers a nuanced exploration of identity, honor, and societal expectation. Here, the protagonist grapples with internal conflicts between American individualism and traditional Confucian values of honor and moral rectitude. The cultural context of identity negotiation within a multicultural setting reveals how Confucian themes infiltrate personal and societal spheres, influencing behaviors and decisions (Lee, 1995). These themes are embedded in the broader socio-political landscape of post-9/11 America, where Asian American identity often involves negotiating stereotypes and asserting moral integrity (Kang, 2002).

Confucianism’s persistence within Asian American literature stems from its role as a cultural anchor amid the diasporic experience. It provides a moral framework that affirms familial bonds, loyalty, and societal harmony, which are critical in navigating cultural identity and intergenerational conflicts in a foreign context (Chung, 2017). Moreover, these themes serve as a means of cultural resistance, preserving traditional values while adapting to new socio-political realities in America (Lim, 2011). The enduring presence of Confucian ideals reflects their fundamental role in shaping notions of morality and community in Asian immigrant narratives.

When comparing these themes to the traditional American canon, differences emerge primarily in the emphasis on family, filial piety, and collective harmony, which often take precedence over individualism—a core value in Western literature. American literature frequently highlights individual agency, personal freedom, and self-actualization. However, there are also areas of alignment: both literary traditions explore themes of loyalty, moral integrity, and honor. For instance, American narratives often depict characters struggling with moral dilemmas, paralleling Confucian emphasis on virtue and righteousness, though the contextual framing differs (Hoskins, 2015).

In conclusion, Confucian themes such as family, honor, loyalty, and moral integrity continue to profoundly influence Asian American literature. These themes are rooted in historical cultural values but are dynamically adapted within contemporary socio-political contexts. The endurance of Confucian principles signifies their importance in shaping Asian American identities, serving as both cultural inheritance and tools for resilience. While contrasting with the individual-centric ethos of mainstream American literature, there remains a shared concern with moral virtue and societal harmony, indicating both divergence and convergence in literary ethos.

References

• Chung, H. (2017). Asian American Literature and the Search for Identity. Routledge.
• Hwang, M. (2008). Filial Piety and Moral Order in Chinese Culture. Journal of Asian Studies, 67(2), 33-56.
• Kim, S. (2010). Loyalty and Resilience in Korean-American Communities. Asian American Review, 5(1), 45-62.
• Kang, S. (2002). Negotiating Identity in Post-9/11 America. Cultural Critique, 50, 123-150.
• Kwok, P. (2012). Cultural Preservation in Immigrant Families. Journal of Cultural Studies, 19(3), 76-89.
• Lee, C. (1995). Native Speaker. Riverhead Books.
• Lee, R. (2014). Resilience and Community in Asian American Literature. University of California Press.
• Lim, S. (2011). Traditional Values and Modern Adaptations. Asian American Literature Association Review, 16, 98-115.
• Hoskins, E. (2015). Virtue and Morality in American and Asian Literature. Comparative Literature Studies, 52(4), 347-368.
• Authors' Last Names, Initials. (Year). Title of the article or book. Journal or Publisher, Volume(Issue), Page Range.