Chinese and Foreign Folk Customs

Author: You Mingqian, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: This book provides a concise introduction to folklore, folkloristics, as well as related knowledge of races, ethnic groups, and languages. It outlines the classification of races, their geographical distribution, corresponding ethnic groups, and the languages they use. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive introduction to several major religions worldwide. From aspects such as life rituals, social customs, and festival traditions, it gives a general overview of world folklore and Chinese folklore, covering life customs, marriage and funeral rituals, and social etiquette. The book then describes the main customs of China's ethnic groups, including those in several major autonomous regions with ethnic minorities and other ethnic groups with populations exceeding one million. It also provides detailed introductions to the folk customs of Confucian culture in East and Southeast Asian countries, Christian culture in Europe and Oceania, Islamic culture in Arab countries, as well as uniquely distinctive countries like India and Israel. The book particularly clarifies the theoretical framework of knowledge systems for Chinese and foreign folklore and the conceptual understanding and attitudes that should be adopted toward specific folk practices. Using this framework and attitude, it organizes the book's rich content, unifying the complex and diverse folk customs into a rigorous and well-structured layout, making it fluent, engaging, and refreshing like a painting. This book is suitable for tourism students and professionals, as well as general readers interested in Chinese and foreign folklore.