History of Chinese Folk Literature

This book explores the role, function, influence, and values of folk oral literature in Chinese literature history, covering various aspects from the Pre-Qin to the late Qing Dynasties. It is a comprehensive literary work with rare and difficult-to-find materials and proposes important theories on folk literature's qualities. It complements other essential classics on Chinese literature history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 628 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book delves into the multifaceted realm of folk oral literature, exploring its pivotal role, functions, influence, and intrinsic values throughout the rich tapestry of Chinese literature. Comprising a total of 14 chapters, it meticulously covers a wide range of central aspects of folklore, encompassing ballads, folk songs, Bianwen, Zajuci, Guzici, Zhugongdiao, Sanqu, Baojuan, Tanci, Zidishu, and numerous other captivating forms. By filling in numerous gaps in literary history studies, this comprehensive literary work stands as a testament to the depth and richness of ancient Chinese folk traditions. What sets this book apart is the rarity and scarcity of the materials cited within its pages, making it a treasure trove of knowledge and insight. Moreover, the book offers valuable theories, particularly six highly generalized qualities that define folk literature: its popularity, collective nature, oral transmission, freshness, effusive expression, and innovative spirit. With an abundance of detailed and extensive materials, accompanied by insightful quotations, this work represents the most systematic and comprehensive exploration of ancient Chinese folk literature to date. It stands in harmonious complementarity with Guowei Wang's A Textual Research of the Traditional Chinese Opera in the Song and Yuan Dynasties and Xun Lu's A Brief History of Chinese Fiction, which are widely regarded as the most essential classics for delving into the history of Chinese literature.

Weight: 967g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811654473
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021