Zhongguo Wenxue Shi (Chinese: 中國文學史) is a book about the history of Chinese literature by Lin Chuanjia [zh], published in 1904. It was the first known published history of Chinese literature in Chinese.[1]

Zhongguo Wenxue Shi
Traditional Chinese中國文學史
Simplified Chinese中国文学史
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōngguó Wénxuéshǐ
Wade–GilesChung-kuo Wen-hsüeh-shih

Lin Quanjia was inspired by Shina bungakushi (支那文学史; "History of Chinese Literature") by Sasakawa Rinpū [ja], published in 1898.[2] The book focused on classical prose, and did not significantly explore works of fiction nor poetry.[1]

According to Giovanni Vitello of the University of Naples "L'Orientale", due to the cultural difference in what "wenxue" meant in pre-1920s China, in this case how "humanities" was defined by the Imperial Edict of 1903, the work "was not exactly a "history" of Chinese literature as we would understand it today".[1]

In 1922 Zheng Zhenduo criticized the book for having a title he felt was misleading.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Vitello, Giovanni (2013-01-01). "The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature. Two volumes. The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature, Volume I: To 1375. The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature, Volume II: From 1375". China Review International. 20 (1/2): 54–60. JSTOR 43818367. - Cited: p. 54
  2. ^ Thornber, Karen Laura (2009). Empire of Texts in Motion: Chinese, Korean, and Taiwanese Transculturations of Japanese Literature. Harvard University Press. p. 119. ISBN 9780674036253.

Further reading

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