1238317 A Comparative History of East Asian Literatures:  Panel 1, “Histories”

Organizer(s):

Haun Saussy, University of Chicago (hsaussy@uchicago.edu)

An ICLA project launched in 2016 proposes to explore the interrelations of the many literatures of East Asia, from the earliest evidence of writing to the present day. Though a comprehensive history is an unrealistically vast ambition, it should be possible in small compass to chronicle the emergence of literary traditions and describe their interrelations through translation, resignification, emulation, adaptation, and commentary. “Literature” should here be taken in the largest possible sense, including works that might otherwise be classified as law, ritual, statecraft, religion, or geography, and not failing to reflect oral and performance traditions. 

Two panels at the Macau ICLA will be devoted to issues relating to this project. Potential contributors to the book series are encouraged to present their work. The Table of Contents for the planned six or seven volumes is still in development. 

The first panel invites contributions on questions relating to the historical development of the literatures of East Asia. Thus, for example, a paper might discuss types and variations in the hero-epics of Central Asia, or the reception of the Records of the Grand Historianin Korea. Issues of translation, emulation, rewriting, influence, and commentary that help us to understand the currents of intellectual exchange among the areas of the region will demonstrate the usefulness of comparative methods in intra-Asian study.