history of Japanese literature
Refers to the academic study or a written survey of the historical development of Japanese literature.
I'm taking a course on the history of Japanese literature at university.
This book covers the history of Japanese literature from the Heian period to the present.
国文学 is the broader field of Japanese literature studies, while 国文学史 specifically focuses on its historical development.
Compound of 国文学 (Japanese literature) and 史 (history).