Introduction to Chinese Folk Literature (Complete Four Volumes)

Author: Chen Ganglong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-07
Features: The Eastern Cultural Integration was advocated by Professor Ji Xianlin and organized by the editorial committee jointly established by the China Society for Eastern Cultural Research and the Institute of Oriental Studies at Peking University. This is a global cultural project aimed at the revival and renewed glory of Eastern culture in the 21st century. Eastern folk literature is an important component of Eastern literature. The colorful Eastern folk literature and literary works together constitute the whole of Eastern literature, and the traditional characteristics of ancient Eastern literature are primarily reflected in folk literature. Eastern countries possess an inexhaustible heritage of folk literature. Ancient Egyptian mythology, India's two great epics and Panchatantra, and the Arabic One Thousand and One Nights have all had a profound impact on world literature. Moreover, the living oral epics in the world's epic treasury are mainly found in Eastern regions. Therefore, strengthening the study of Eastern folk literature holds significant academic importance for both constructing a comprehensive Eastern literary system and advancing the study of world folk literature.
Peking University has a long academic tradition in Eastern literature and Comparative Literature studies. This monograph is composed of four volumes, written by 25 experts. It employs theories of folk literature, folklore, and literary history to preliminarily organize the primary sources of folk literature from various Eastern countries. It elaborates on the content, form, and developmental characteristics of folk literature from dozens of Eastern countries, clearly outlining the panorama of Eastern folk literature and showcasing the national and interregional relationships of folk literature in Eastern countries. The chapters cover: historical and cultural overviews of relevant countries, classifications of various genres of folk literature, general surveys of the collection, organization, and research of folk literature, and the status of folk literature in literary and cultural history.
The interpretation of national folk literature is generally divided into folk narrative literature, folk songs, folk theater, and folk balladry, with a focus on folk narrative literature. Through representative folk literary works, the ethnic characteristics of each country's folk literature are analyzed. The introduction to the collection, organization, and research of national folk literature emphasizes both historical studies and the latest research findings, while also addressing current issues in the field.