Early Globalism and Chinese Literature

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. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Product details

• Authors: Victor H. Mair, Yuanfei Wang
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 31.01.2026
• EAN: 9781009500159
• ISBN: 978-1-009-50015-9
• Weight: 500 g
• Illustrations: Worked examples or Exercises
• Series: Elements in the Global Middle Ages
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; China, European History, HISTORY / World, Buddhism, Medieval History, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, c 1000 CE to c 1500, Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Literature of China