20th Century Chinese Folklore Classics: Academic History Volume

Author: Yuan Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: This volume collects nearly 60 articles, outlining the development of Chinese folklore studies over a century in the 20th century from various aspects such as academic debates, historical reviews, character critiques, and historical materials. The development of folklore studies aligns with the times, with varying research focuses in different historical periods. At the beginning of the century, influenced by Western learning, folklore studies flourished. From its inception, it upheld the spirit of science, democracy, and local culture. Over the years, folklore studies experienced ups and downs but maintained this spirit. At the end of the century, folklore studies entered another period of peak development. The articles by scholars such as Zhong Jingwen, Yang Kun, Ma Changyi, and Chen Ziai depict the long journey of folklore studies over the past century. The eight elderly scholars—Huang Zunxian, Zhou Zuoren, Gu Jiegang, Mao Dun, Huangshi, Jiang Shaoyuan, Wen Yiduo, and Zhong Jingwen—dedicated their lives to advocating and promoting folklore studies. Their biographies reveal their contributions to Chinese folklore studies and provide insights into their academic thoughts and achievements. Scholars like Guo Moruo, Jia Zhi, and Hu Qiaojiu were both leaders and scholars. Their directives and speeches from that time remain guiding principles for folklore research and work. The "Twelve-Year Outlook Plan" proposed by Pan Guangdan, Wu Wenzao, and Yang Chengzhi sincerely outlined the direction and specific research tasks for folklore studies. The articles by Yuan Ke and Zhang Hong in the 1980s sparked two major academic debates. The founding editorials for the Geyao weekly by Hu Shi and Zhou Zuoren, as well as Gu Jiegang's editorial for the Folklore journal, are particularly valuable historical materials that are not easily accessible. Mr. Wang Wenbao's chronology of folklore studies meticulously records the significant events, figures, and organizations in the field over the past century.