VPL - Classics of Asian LiteraturesLike this list

19 items

• The Arabian Nights

  Tales of 1001 Nights

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  Legend has it that beautiful Scheherazade saved her life by telling these stories to King Shahryār and keeping him spellbound for 1,001 nights. Also known as Arabian Nights, this is a world-renowned collection stories with roots in Arabic,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Book of Dede Korkut

  a Turkish Epic

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  Dating as far back as the 8th century CE, this is a famous compilation of epic stories of the nomadicTurks, all linked by legendary soothsayer Dede (Grandfather) Korkut.

• The Book of Misers

  a Translation of al-Bukhala'

  Al-Jahiz, Abu `Uthman ibn Bahr

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  This collection of humorous stories about greed is a perennial classic of Arabic literature. Schoolmasters, singers, and scribes are among the many groups of people ridiculed for their greedy behaviour.

• The Conference of the Birds

  the Selected Sufi Poetry of Farid ud-Din Attar

  ʻAṭṭār, Farīd al-Dīn, -approximately 1230

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  The birds of the world must cross seven valleys in order to find the mythical Persian bird Simorgh in this celebrated example of Persian poetry and Sufi literature. The poem also serves as a “parable” of an individual’s quest for God’s…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Essential Haiku

  Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa

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  The very short poetic form of haiku, originating in 9th century Japan, is a unique way of looking at the physical world and discovering the deeper nature of existence itself. This is a selection of haiku by three celebrated masters.

• The Fatal Rumour

  a Nineteenth-century Indian Novel

  Rajam Aiyar, B. R., 1872-1898

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  A fast-moving family saga offering a unique glimpse into late nineteenth century India. One of the earliest novels written in Tamil.

• Gilgamesh

  a New English Version

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  This Babylonian epic dating back to 2000 BCE follows king Gilgamesh in his quest for immortality.

• The Hundred Thousand Songs

  of Milarepa; the Life-story and Teaching of the Greatest Poet-saint Ever to Appear in the History of Buddhism

  Mi-la-ras-pa, 1040-1123

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  These mystical songs by 11th century Tibetan yogi and poet Milarepa are gems of Tibetan sacred literature and a perennial source of beauty, inspiration, and deep significance.

• The Mahābhārata

  An Abridged Translation

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  An ancient epic from India, The Mahabharata is known as the longest poem ever written. It tells the tale of the struggle of two dynasties for the throne of Hastinapura.

• Pancatantra

  the Book of India's Folk Wisdom

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  An influential and famous collection of animal fables from ancient India. The original Sanskrit work, based on oral tradition, dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

• The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon

  the Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan

  Sei Shōnagon, approximately 967-

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  This diary of court lady Sei Shōnagon is a classic of Japanese literature. The reader gets a glimpse not only into her personal thoughts and opinions, but also into the court life of late 10th and early 11th century Japan.

• The Ramayana of Valmiki

  An Epic of Ancient India

  Vālmīki

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  The fascinating journey of Rama to rescue his wife Sita from King Ravana. Beyond telling the story of Rama, this great epic of Hindu literature explores human values and the concept of dharma.

• Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

  Omar Khayyam

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  Persian poet and philosopher Omar Khayyám examines the transience of all things in this collection of his famous four-line poems.

• Songs of Kabir

  Kabir, active 15th century

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  Kabir was a 15th century Indian poet and mystic. His poems, translated to English by Rabindranath Tagore, are works of “marvelous radiant intensity,” inspired by the philosophies of both Sufism and Hinduism.

• Spring Essence

  the Poetry of Ho Xuan Huong

  Hồ, Xuân Hương

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  Woman poet Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1822) is a cultural symbol of Vietnam. Her poems are irreverent and at times shockingly erotic for her time.

• The Tale of Genji

  Murasaki Shikibu, 978?-

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  A masterpiece of Japanese literature from early 11th century, often considered “the world’s first modern novel.” Written by the noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu, the novel offers a unique glimpse into the life of high courtiers of that time.

• The Tale of the Heike

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  Compiled of different oral tales, this medieval Japanese epic tells of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century CE.

• The Tale of Prince Samuttakote

  a Buddhist Epic From Thailand

  Hōrāthibō̜dī, Phra, -approximately 1680

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  The adventures of Prince Samuttakote and his princess as they tour the heavenly realms with a magic sword. This epic, the work of three different poets of the 17th and 18th centuries, is teeming with Thai legends from the human, natural,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Tales From the Masnavi

  Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, Maulana, 1207-1273

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  This long poem of 50,000 lines in Persian by Sufi saint and poet Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (1207-1273) is considered a masterpiece of religious literature and illustrates the main themes of Sufi mystical life.