A Brief Introduction to Chinese Folk Literature

Author: Duan Baolin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Folk literature is a form of literature that arises and circulates among the masses. In a class society, folk literature is created and disseminated by the broad masses of the people (primarily the working class). Folk literature is a living art of oral language created and transmitted by the masses. We can define folk literature as a language art created orally and passed down by the masses (primarily the working class). It is both an expression of the people's lives, thoughts, and emotions and a summary of their knowledge of science, religion, and other aspects of life. It is also a manifestation of their aesthetic concepts and artistic tastes. Folk literature has a distinct feature: it is literature created and disseminated directly by the masses themselves. It is a collective creation passed down through generations, and therefore, at all times, its selection and direction are in the hands of the broad masses. It is a direct reflection of their lives, psychology, will, ideals, and tastes, and is often closely tied to their material needs, customs, rituals, and beliefs. It is also a means of argumentation and self-entertainment. Oral tradition is the fundamental method of creation and dissemination of folk literature. Over long historical development, it has formed its own set of genres, including myths, legends, stories, songs, proverbs, riddles, epics, narrative poems, folk plays, and some forms of narrative literature. …Collectivity and orality are its essential characteristics. Folk literature can be broadly divided into three levels in terms of genre:
1. Core level: Songs, myths, legends, and stories
2. Intermediate level: Proverbs, riddles, and folk plays
3. Peripheral level: Folk narrative literature, epics, and narrative poems.