Introduction to Folk Literature

Author: Wan Jianzhong / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Folk literature is something every Chinese person has encountered and enjoyed, as everyone lives within a certain folk literary field, possessing their own knowledge of folk literature and having been influenced by it. Widespread myths like the story of Chang'e flying to the moon, legends such as that of Meng Jiangnu, tales of Lu Ban, and stories like "Grandma Wolf" are well-known to all. However, during fieldwork, we often hear people say, "I have no culture." This indicates that a significant portion of the populace, including some scholars, believes culture is mediated by writing and requires "specialized" learning.
"The 'power of writing' reflects an undeniable historical fact, and even more so, it becomes a kind of 'distinction/exclusion' relationship in the manifestation of social values, as Foucault might say. For example, those who are illiterate are labeled 'illiterates,' and ethnic groups, farmers, and women without written language have historically been regarded as 'uncultured'." In fact, in the broader folk sphere, in regions where writing is rarely used, there prevails boundless, text-free oral literature, performing arts, music, singing, and other forms of "oral culture" (oral culture). Such oral cultures hold equal status with written cultures.