Once we start diving deeper into the diverse cultures of the world, we begin to learn more about the universal truths that many cultures hold. Eastern culture and Eastern culture literature are riddled with beautiful imagery of nature as well as beautiful stories about love. Amongst the beauty of nature and love, we get to glimpse into the values and gender norms that many Eastern cultures hold. Poetry holds a strong place in many cultures, Early Chinese Poetry reflects the history and values of Chinese culture. In the poem “Peach Tree Soft and Tender” the author reflects the beauty of nature against the innocence of a bride. The author writes
Peach tree soft and tender,
plump, the ripening fruit.
The bride is going to her home,
she well befits this house.
The nature reflected in the poem reflects the importance of wen or the manifestation of true life in literature. The theme of love and beauty is also present in one of the most popular stories “The Story of YingYing” which explores ideas of honor, family, gender traditions, and the importance of society versus the individual. These themes are present in many current-day texts such as The Joy Luck Club and many others. When teaching or learning about Eastern culture, it is important to reflect on how the different cultures and values are present in our lives, how are we influenced by other cultures and how are we different. At the end of the day, we all value beauty and love, is this a universal culture?
thelittleyellowclassroom.com 