Description
Book SynopsisThis book mainly addresses the position, function, influence, and values of folk oral literature in the history of Chinese literature. Divided into 14 chapters, it systematically covers central aspects of folklore literature such as ballads, folk songs,
Bianwen, Zajuci, Guzici, Zhugongdiao, Sanqu, Baojuan, Tanci, Zidishu, and so on from the Pre-Qin to the late Qing Dynasties, filling several gaps in literary history studies. It is a comprehensive literary work, and many of the materials cited here are rare and difficult to find. In addition, the book proposes some important theories, especially six highly generalized qualities of folk literature, namely that it is: popular, collective, oral, fresh, effusive, and innovative.
With detailed, extensive materials, and quotations, the book represents the most systematic and comprehensive work to date on ancient Chinese folk literature. It is mutually complementary 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; all three works are regarded as the most essential classics for researching the history of Chinese literature.
Table of ContentsChapter 1 What Is Folk Literature?.- Chapter 2 Ancient Ballads.- Chapter 3 Folk Literature in the Han Dynasty.- Chapter 4 Folk Songs in the Six Dynasties.- Chapter 5 Odes and Songs in the Tang Dynasty.- Chapter 6
Bianwen, a Popular Form of Literature in the Tang Dynasty.- Chapter 7
Zajuci, a Popular Literary Form in the Song and Jin Periods.- Chapter 8
Guzici and
Zhugongdiao, Popular Literary Forms Featured with Singing and Saying.- Chapter 9
Sanqu, A Type of Verse in the Yuan Dynasty.- Chapter 10 Folk Songs in the Ming Dynasty.- Chapter 11
Baojuan, a Literary Form Featured with Story-telling and Singing.- Chapter 12
Tanci, a Literary Form Featured with Story-telling to the Accompaniment of Stringed Instrument.- Chapter 13
Guci and
Zidishu, Popular Literary Forms in the Ming and Qing Dynasties .- Chapter 14 Folk Songs in the Qing Dynasty.- Academical Chronology of Zheng Zhenduo.- Zheng Zhenduo and
His History of Chinese Folk Literature.
