A comprehensive overview of China's 3,000 years of literary history, from its beginnings to the present day

Table of Contents:

• pt. I. Introduction. The concept of literature ; Language and writing, paper and printing, education, and literacy ; Traditional Chinese society, especially in the period from the Han to the Qing ; The central tradition in traditional society ; The way and the government, truth and literature ; The study and translation of Chinese literature in the West
• pt. II. From the earliest times to the invention of paper. Chinese political history before A.D. 100 ; Historical prose ; The philosophers ; Poetry
• pt. III. From the invention of paper to the spread of the book printing. Chinese political history 100-700
• Fu, prose, and literary criticism ; Poetry: Shi and Yuefu ; Chinese political history, 700-1000 ; Poetry: Shi ; Tang prose: Ancient-style prose and short stories ; Popular literature: Ci and Bianwen
• pt. IV. From the spread of book printing to the introduction of Western printing methods. Chinese political history, 1000-1450 ; Poetry: Shi, Shihua and Ci ; Prose: Guwen, Biji, Chuanqi, Pinghua ; Qu: Zhugongdiao, Zaju, and Sanqu, and Xiwen ; Chinese political history, 1450-1915 ; Classical-language poetry and prose ; Drama: Zaju, Chuanqi, and regional drama ; The novel (1450-1650) ; The novella (Huaben) ; The novel (1650-1875) ; Performance texts and oral literature
• pt. V. Transition to modern literature (1875-1915) The transitional period
• pt. VI. Modern literature (1915-1990) Chinese political history, 1915-1990 ; Modern literature: an introduction ; Modern literature 1917-1942: the short story and the novel ; Modern literature 1917-1942: Poetry, drama, and essay ; Modern literature: 1942-1990.