Yuanfei Wang

Introduction

Early Globalism and Chinese Literature (Cambridge, HK: Cambridge University Press, 2026).

The entire book, richly illustrated in color, is available open access online.

Summary

Exploring ‘early globalism and Chinese literature’ through the lens of ‘literary diffusion,’ this Element analyzes two primary forms. The first is Buddhist literary diffusion, whose revolutionary impact on Chinese language and literature is illustrated through scriptural translation, transformation texts, and ‘journey to the West’ stories. The second, facilitated diffusion, engages with the maritime world, traced through the seafaring journey of Cinderella stories and the totalizing worldview in literature on Zheng He’s voyages. The authors contend that early global literary diffusion left a lasting imprint on Chinese language, literature, and culture.

Contents

• PART I Buddhism And Literature
• Introduction to Part I
• 1 Buddhist Translation and the Chinese Language
• 2 Bianwen (“Transformation Texts”) and Their Importance
• 3 Buddhism, the Literary World, and the “Journey to the West” Stories
• PART II SEA AND STORY
• Introduction to Part II
• 4 Maritime Circulation of the Cinderella Story
• 5 Voyages of Zheng He: The World in Ming Literature
• Epilogue
• Appendix
• Acknowledgements
• The Global Middle Ages
• The Global Middle Ages
• Footnotes
• References

Grants and Awards have demonstrated to be crucial for the completion and publication of this project. The SSRC transregional research short-residency grant (2020) at the University of Southern California has supported the completion of an early draft of this Element. The Faculty Research Grant (2023-2025) of Lingnan University has funded necessary fieldwork and editing service of its various drafts. The HSSPFS (Humanities and Social Science Prestigious Fellowship Scheme) grant (2024-2025) from RGC of Hong Kong has made the open access option possible. I am very thankful for these.

Related Publications

In 2022, a teaching essay “Chinese Literature and the World: Tang, Song, and Yuan Dynasties” was published on MLA Teaching Volume: The Global Middle Ages edited by Geraldine Heng. To read more, click here.

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