Oriental literature, also known as Asian and African literature, is an important part of world literature. The "East" in the literary sense is neither an international political or military concept nor a regional concept, but a cultural concept, which is relative to the western culture centered on Europe. The reason why "the East" has an indissoluble bond with Asia and Africa has a long history. The Assyrians in the ancient two river basins called the east where the sun rises "Yaxi", and later the Greeks followed this name and renamed it "Yaxi". In modern history, geographical terms such as the Near East, the Middle East and the Far East have also followed this meaning of Asia. As for Africa, Egypt in ancient North Africa, Babylonia in West Asia, India in South Asia and China in East Asia are also called the four ancient civilizations in the East, so it is customary to include Africa in the geographical concept of "East", which is the origin relationship between East Asia and Asia and Africa.
Compared with the marine culture of ancient Greece and Rome, the eastern countries are typical inland river cultures. Oriental ancient literature refers to the literature in the late primitive society and slave society. The oldest and largest collection of poems in the world, the earliest and longest epic of mankind, etc. , have appeared in the east.
Oriental ancient literature is in a dominant position in world literature, while medieval literature is in a priority position. Although modern literature is backward, it has its own characteristics. Modern and contemporary literature is in the revival period and is one of the most promising literature in the world literature. The four ancient civilizations (Egyptian, Babylonian, Indian and China) are all oriental countries, and their literature is the origin of world literature.