The definition of the main body or subject of literary history can be started with the followings:first,an understanding of the double connotations of literary history;secondly,a cognition of its research characteristic of process;thirdly,based on the above characteristic,giving an elaboration of the features about the main body of literary history.

It mainly includes the following five aspects:literary as a special type of history;establishment of the readers position in literary history;dia- chronic and synchronic study of literary history;combination of the history of effect and the history of accept- ance;and intention of constructing the total literary history.