Carnival and the Everyday: Temple Fairs and the Folk Society Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Author: Zhao Shiyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: This book extends from the living space of folk temple fairs in the late period of the Chinese Empire to explore the life and popular culture of the common people during the social transformation of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is the preliminary result of the author's nearly ten years of focus on folk culture and the history of grassroots society. It is divided into three parts: an overview, urban research, and case studies, accompanied by discussions on theory and methodology. The content of the entire book, as revealed by the title "Carnival and Everyday Life," uncovers the fundamental characteristics of temple fairs, such as these folk religious activities not only constitute a part of the people's daily life but also concentrate on the carnival of the entire population at specific times and occasions. This combination of stillness and movement, the ordinary and the extraordinary, is indeed the rhythm of our lives.