This paper examines the evolution of literary historiography in East Asia, focusing on how early textual traditions shaped historical narratives. By analyzing key works from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean traditions, it explores how these cultures adapted historiographical models over time, influenced by indigenous practices and external forces, particularly from China. The article calls for a regionally comparative and globally aware approach to East Asian Studies, arguing that traditional European Sinology/Japanology and North American area studies remain constrained by nation-centered methodologies. These limitations obscure East Asiaโs shared cultural history and its relevance today. Through a comparative lens, this study highlights the processes of cultural exchange and adaptation that shaped literary historiography. Ultimately, it contends that revisiting these historiographical traditions offers deeper insights into the intellectual history of the region.
