The World's Asian Treasure

The World’s Asian Treasure

People would say that buried treasure doesn’t exist anymore, but these are only the people who never bothered to look. I’m curious to know what buried treasure means to people in today’s age, and after some pondering, it can be nothing else but Literature. Literature is the treasure that amazes the minds of readers and teaches precious life lessons. It is a treasure because its boundaries simply do not exist, and it is set apart from any treasure chest in history for this same reason. Literature, a reflection of reality, does more than just describe and reflect our daily activities and respective cultures. It enriches the intellect of the lucky reader who bothers to look for it, and every literary piece is another precious stone in his pocket. The world’s Literature is something to truly marvel at. Nothing else in the world is quite like it because it can mystify and enlighten. This powerful tool comes in many forms with each region of the world having its own unique set. It becomes unique because every nation has its own beliefs and philosophies of life. Now I will analyze Asian literature, a personal favorite, and how it is different from its Western counterpart. Studying different types of Literature from a variety of Asian nations, I have taken one main literary value, and it is that beauty is present in simple things. Asian literature is simple because its forms are easy to read and capture the deep, underlying significance; therefore, Asian literature is arguably one of the most accessible categories of World Literature. Its themes are simple in its appreciation of nature and a well-rounded life making it something everyone can relate to. The three lines of a calm haiku and the perfect balance of Yin and Yang best reflect these main themes. The teachings of a certain famous Asian philosopher, Confucius, also center on the achievement of a balanced way of life. Although this already makes Asian Literature unique,