Return to the Homeland: A Folklorist's Journey to His 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. Yi Yuan Li, 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 producing and living in such an environment. Culture is one of the important markers that define what it means to be human. In recent years, with the acceleration of globalization and modernization, the world has become a "global village," yet cultural barriers still persist. Thus, the diversity of cultures and the collisions and integration among different ethnic cultures have made attention to culture, especially grassroots culture, increasingly important. Cross-cultural survival and cross-cultural thinking have become crucial themes 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 fieldwork. Coincidentally, Guangxi People's Publishing House also shared the same publishing intentions. After communication and discussion, a series of "Cultural Field Photo-Text Books" was eventually published.
The "Cultural Field Photo-Text Books" adopt a (s) writing style, conveying cultural insights from the field through a visually engaging format. While emphasizing factual details and vivid narratives, the text is concise and fluid. The treatment of images strives to use tangible design to express intangible language, seamlessly integrating visuals with text, achieving a perfect harmony between tradition and modernity.
This series tells the stories and experiences from field research, documenting the people and events encountered during the fieldwork. Its greatest strength lies in bringing the people and objects of the field to life, making the scenes and emotions vivid. Readers not only hear the personal monologues of the researchers but also the voices of their interviewees. They learn not only the results of the research but also witness the interactions and exchanges between the researchers and the interviewees, gaining rich cultural insights from the field and profound emotional resonance. This allows readers to journey alongside the authors through the cultural fields.
Given the rich and diverse content, the series is divided into two main parts: Domestic and Overseas. The domestic section is further divided into "Eastern" and "Western" subseries, forming a cohesive structure: "Cultural Field Photo-Text Books: Western Field Series," "Cultural Field Photo-Text Books: Eastern Field Series," and "Cultural Field Photo-Text Books: Overseas Mirror Series."
With my feet as your eyes, with your heart as my heart, let us step into the field and feel the culture.
Returning Home—A Folklorist's Journey to His Hometown, describes the author's observations, thoughts, and reflections during his return to Gansu Tianshui, his hometown, with the purpose of folkloristic fieldwork. Gansu Tianshui is an area with a long history, where the local people still preserve many ancient traditions. These include rituals for rainmaking, hail prevention, and pest control to address extraordinary events, as well as numerous cultural phenomena embedded in daily life.
From the dual perspective of being both a folklorist and a local, the author 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 his interactions with the people of his hometown and the poetic, complex process of discovery and investigation within familiar daily life.