Revisiting in World Literature

Many of the writers works and literary movements discussed in this book sought innovation by looking back to ancient roots for inspiration. For example the writers of the Ming dynasty 1368-1644 and the early Qing Ching dynasty 1644-1911 in China looked back for inspiration to the literature especially the poetry of the Tang dynasty 618-907 a period during which the Chinese invested printing by world blocks and literature flourished.

Under the influence of the Chinese Ming literary efflorescence Korean and Japanese literature often written in Chinese as well as in the native tongues also blossomed during the years of the European Renalissance. The mid 15the century invention of an alphabet for the Korean language gave impetus to the growth of literature in the language.