Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2025

The Knowledge Genealogy of Chinese and Foreign Exchange and Interaction in Literary Theory since the Reform and Opening-up

(Abstract)

Pang Hong

Starting the reform and opening-up, Chinese and foreign exchange and interaction in literary theory have formed a following knowledge system. The first is the theory of context. The integration of Marxist literary theory, sociology of literature and art, cultural research and the functionalist view of Chinese literary and art has raised Chinese scholars’ awareness of local issues. The second is textual theory. Fresh issues introduced by formalism, New Criticism, structuralismpoststructuralism and narratology have updated Chinese academic community’s understanding of text, language and form. The third is the theory of interpretation. The interaction of Chinese and foreign interpretative theories has promoted scholars to contemplate issues such as intentions, certainty, uncertainty and interpretative limits, elevating the modern transformation of Chinese classic interpretative discourse. The fourth is the theory of literary history. This exchange between Chinese and foreign countries has given rise to tensions in literary history research between factors such as form and society, deconstruction and construction, reality and fiction, revitalizing the theory of literary history within the context of civilizational interaction.