THE COUNTRYSIDE IN THE SINOSPHERE’S MEDIEVAL POETRY

Abstract

The Countryside in the Sinosphere’s Medieval Poetry explores the literary and cultural relationships between East Asian countries, specifically Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, and their shared influences from Chinese literature during the medieval period. The research outlines how Confucian thoughts and concepts of nature and humanity influenced medieval poets in these countries, while also highlighting the unique cultural values embedded in their countryside-themed poems. Despite geographical differences, East Asian countries shared historical and social similarities that fostered the development of medieval literature, particularly poetry that depicted rural life and nature. The study examines how each country’s medieval poetry reflected its own identity through its portrayal of nature and rural life. Korean sijo poems and Japanese haiku, for example, are distinct in their depiction of natural beauty and human emotions. Vietnamese poetry, influenced by classical Chinese and Nôm characters, depicted the rural landscape and life with simple yet profound imagery. It also discusses the impact of individual poets, such as Nguyễn Trãi and Nguyễn Khuyến, who vividly portrayed the countryside’s seasonal changes and the lives of rural people. It can conludes that medieval countryside-themed poetry in the Sinosphere is characterized by a deep connection to national culture and customs, reflecting the poets' love for their homeland and national pride. This body of work not only enriched literature with humanistic values but also demonstrated the unique identities and cultural exchanges within the Sinosphere.