World's Most Beautiful Folktales

Author: Huang Hanping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Since ancient times, many beautiful and moving stories have been passed down in folk traditions. Because they originate from the people, we can experience them more authentically. World Beautiful Folk Tales is a collection of stories showcasing the wit, humor, charm, and playfulness of ordinary people. These magnificent and vast folk tales are an encyclopedia for all of humanity, a window into the hearts of people worldwide. They tell stories from the lives of ordinary people, with each story imparting a lesson about how to live, teaching readers to distinguish between right and wrong, to discern truth from falsehood, and to cultivate a correct attitude toward life. World Beautiful Folk Tales features clever uses of wisdom to overcome difficulties and risks, as well as skillful humor to resolve awkward situations. Through different stories, it imparts various lessons, helping children gradually understand society and create a brighter future. This book is organized into three sections. Section One and Section Two are titled "Fable and Fairy Tale" and "Strange Stories and Legends," each containing 34 stories. They range from the ancient Greek fables of Aesop to the folk tales of Myanmar, offering a rich and diverse selection. Included are well-known classics like The Emperor’s New Clothes and Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, as well as lesser-known masterpieces. There are even "postmodern" versions of fables and fairy tales that parody or deconstruct classic stories, such as The Egoist and The Little Girl and the Wolf. Section Three is "Historical Figures," featuring 33 stories of famous politicians, philosophers, writers, and artists from ancient times to the 20th century, all filled with legendary anecdotes. Unlike typical folk tales, the protagonists in these stories are real historical figures, while their deeds are recorded in historical records or folk legends. In summary, the 101 stories in this book are mostly concise, vividly narrated, and written with refined language and profound meaning, ranking among the world’s most beautiful folk tales. I believe that attentive readers can gain "big wisdom" from these "small stories."