Comparative Study of Chinese and Western Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to comparatively study the differences and commonalities between Chinese literature and Western literature. First of all, the characteristics of the two are compared from three aspects, namely, presentation methods, thematic contents and literary forms. Chinese literature focuses on mood, ambiguity, and emphasizes the natural flow of emotions; while Western literature attaches importance to structure, logic, and pursues innovation in form. In terms of thematic content, Chinese literature tends to express personal emotions and expresses the harmony between human beings and nature and society; while Western literature focuses on the conflict between individuals and society and emphasizes freedom, equality and human rights. In terms of literary forms, Chinese literature coexists in various forms such as poetry, prose and novels, while Western literature takes novels, dramas and poems as its main forms. Secondly, this study explores the reasons for the differences between the two in terms of cultural background, writers' creative concepts and readers' acceptance. Chinese literature is deeply influenced by traditional cultural ideas such as Confucianism and Taoism, emphasizing moral education and philosophy of life; while Western literature is influenced by ancient Greek and Roman myths as well as religious beliefs such as Christianity, focusing on the inner world of man and exploring human nature. In terms of writers' creative concepts, Chinese writers tend to focus on social harmony from the perspective of traditional morality and ethics, while Western writers advocate the liberation of individuality and the pursuit of the realization of personal values. In terms of readers' acceptance, Chinese literature focuses on aesthetic experience and emotional resonance, while Western literature pays more attention to logical reasoning and thinking. The comparative study of Chinese literature and Western literature can help us better understand the diversity of world literature and enrich our concepts of literary aesthetics and creation. At the same time, by learning from the excellent achievements of Western literature, we can promote the innovation and development of Chinese literature.