Return to the Homeland -- The Journey of a Folklorist in Their Hometown: The Journey of a Folklorist in Their Hometown

Author: An Deming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: It is believed that everyone can answer the meaning of "field," but the academic term "field research" is not a simple study of "fields, wilderness," but rather filled with unique cultural connotations. As the renowned Taiwanese anthropologist, Mr. Li Yiyuan, pointed out: "Broadly speaking, all field research can be called 'field research,' including social surveys, various questionnaire surveys, archaeological field excavations, and ethnological investigations." Therefore, the so-called "cultural field" primarily refers to the environment in which humans produce and live, as well as the processes and outcomes of production and life in such an environment. Culture is one of the important signs that make humans what they are. In recent years, with the acceleration of globalization and modernization, the world has become a "global village," but cultural barriers still exist. Thus, the diversity of culture and the collision and integration between various ethnic cultures have made attention to culture, especially grassroots culture, a crucial theme in contemporary society. Many scholars have long been committed to field research focused on culture, hoping to have the opportunity to express their cultural reflections and life insights from their field research. Coincidentally, Guangxi People's Publishing House also shared the same publishing intention. After communication and discussion, a series of "Cultural Field Visual Series" was eventually published.
The "Cultural Field Visual Series" adopts a (s) writing style, conveying cultural information from the field through a visually rich and engaging format. While emphasizing detailed authenticity and vivid narratives, it also prioritizes concise and fluent writing. The treatment of images strives to use tangible design to express intangible language, integrating pictures and text organically to complement each other, embodying a perfect unity of tradition and modernity. This series tells stories and shares experiences from field research, documenting the people and events encountered during the fieldwork. Its greatest strength lies in bringing people and objects from the field to life, making the scenes and emotions vivid. Readers not only hear the personal monologue of the researcher but also the voices of interviewees; they not only learn the results of the research but also see the interactions and exchanges between the researcher and the subjects. This provides readers with a wealth of cultural insights from the field and a strong emotional resonance, allowing them to journey alongside the authors through the cultural fields.
Given the rich and diverse content, we have divided the series into two main parts—Domestic and Overseas—based on the specific context of the series. The domestic part is further divided into "Eastern" and "Western" sections, forming a cohesive structure: the "Western Field Series," the "Eastern Field Series," and the "Overseas Mirror Series" of the "Cultural Field Visual Series."
"Use my feet as your eyes, use your heart as my heart, and step into the field to feel the culture."
Returning home is an experience many have had, but each person's emotional state during such journeys varies greatly. ── (Returning to My Homeland: A Folklorist's Journey Home) describes the author's observations, thoughts, and reflections during their return to hometown Tianshui, Gansu, with the purpose of folkloristic fieldwork. Tianshui in Gansu is an area with a long history, where the local people still preserve many ancient traditions, including rituals for rainmaking, hail prevention, and pest control to address extraordinary events, as well as numerous cultural phenomena embedded in daily life. The author, who views their hometown from both the perspective of a folklorist and a local resident, uses elegant and lyrical prose along with rich and exquisite images to reveal the specific content and profound meanings of various local customs. The book records the author's interactions with hometowners and the poetic, complex process of investigation and discovery in familiar daily life.