The New Framework of the General Literary Theory: A Review of CAO Shun-qing's History of Chinese and Foreign Literary Theories: A Comparative Study

CAO Shunqing in his newly published book History of Chinese and Foreign Literary Theories:A Comporutive Study proposes and affirms a trans-historical and cross-cultural framework of theories: general theory. The author holds that a study of the Chinese and foreign theories requires a sound mastery of the core of the particular theory and the essentials of the national theory. Comparison between the spiritual essentials of the theories of different nations is to be made and the core of the their common spirit is to be identified so as to establish the world's general theory. In the book the system, points of view, principles and methods, the subjects under discussion and the range of discussion are all clearly presented, which is a successful implementation of the pursuit of literary features and essentials, critical concepts and principles beyond historical differences advocated by Jame's LIU.