East asian textual criticism is a scholarly field and methodological approach dedicated to the critical study of historical texts originating from East Asia, primarily encompassing works in classical Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and related literary traditions. It involves the systematic analysis of variant readings found in manuscripts, early printed editions, commentaries, and other textual witnesses to establish the most reliable textual form, thereby providing a foundation for accurate interpretation and historical understanding of foundational literary, philosophical, and historical works within these cultures.