Folklore

Author: Huang Jingchun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Folk culture is the oldest culture created by the masses, as its roots can be traced back to the earliest stages of human development; at the same time, folk culture is also the youngest culture, because it still thrives in the daily lives and oral traditions of the people. Folk culture is also the foundation of the entire social culture and possesses an extremely strong vitality. Elite culture is often the result of selecting, transforming, and refining folk culture. Chinese folk culture is a cultural tradition passed down from generation to generation, making a significant contribution to the diversity of human culture. The Chinese Folklore Society hopes that through everyone's joint efforts, the flowers of folk culture will bloom more vibrantly, winning our motherland and our Chinese nation an eternal spring. Folk tales are a rare gem among the blossoms of folk literature. They are a form in which the common people describe their lives, tell their stories, narrate their history, and express their wishes through oral language. For thousands of years, they have been passed down among the people and integrated into their way of life. Folk tales have entertained and educated generations, and have also passed down our national customs and traditions from one generation to the next. A person remains immersed in folk culture from the womb until death, and even long after death. Folk culture is like air—it is indispensable to people. For the masses, folk culture is a bond that connects emotions, a symbol of mutual identity, a standard for regulating behavior, a glue that holds the group together, and a cultural tradition forged and passed down through generations. Folk culture is the oldest culture created by the masses, as its roots can be traced back to the earliest stages of human development; at the same time, folk culture is also the youngest culture, because it still thrives in the daily lives and oral traditions of the people. Folk culture is also the foundation of the entire social culture and possesses an extremely strong vitality. Elite culture is often the result of selecting, transforming, and refining folk culture. Chinese folk culture is a cultural tradition passed down from generation to generation, making a significant contribution to the diversity of human culture. The Chinese Folklore Society hopes that through everyone's joint efforts, the flowers of folk culture will bloom more vibrantly, winning our motherland and our Chinese nation an eternal spring. This book is one of the "Chinese Folk Culture Series," primarily introducing the knowledge of Chinese folk tales, including the definition of folk tales, their origins, types, the four major Chinese folk tales, the artistic features of folk tales, and their cultural value.