How did Ezra Pound use Ernest Fenollosa’s papers to introduce Asian literature to English readers?

In 1913, the widow of the American Orientalist Ernest Fenollosa presented Ezra Pound with a large collection of her late husband’s literary remains, which included translations of early Chinese poetry and Japanese Noh dramas.12

Pound utilized these papers by reworking the drafts into English poetic form, effectively introducing these traditional Asian literary works to English-speaking readers. His efforts resulted in the publication of the highly acclaimed volume of Chinese poetry titled Cathay in 1915, followed by two volumes of Japanese Noh plays published between 1916 and 1917. This work was significant not only for its cultural contribution but also for its alignment with Pound’s broader literary goals, as the conciseness and imagery found in these Eastern traditions resonated with the principles of Imagism, a movement Pound helped lead that emphasized direct, sparse language and the presentation of clear, visual images.2134