More than 50 authentic Han Chinese tales.
Foreword Introduction Map of China General Introduction to China Food, Games, and Crafts The Tales Animal Tales Magic Tales Tales of Love and Romance Myths, Legends, and Immortals Moral Tales Tales of How Things Came to Be Proverbial Tales Appendix
Haiwang Yuan is Associate Professor, Department of Library Public Services, and Web Site & Virtual Library Coordinator, Western Kentucky University. He is also Adjunct Instructor of Chinese, Department of Modern Languages and Multicultural Studies. A native of China, Mr. Yuan maintains a Web site, a large portion of which is devoted to Chinese traditionas and folktales. He has published widely in professional journals, and is a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture (2004). He is the recipient of the 1999 Kentucky Libraries Award.
Yuan has done an admirable job of presenting these tales. In the
book's first two parts (60 pages), he offers cultural context and a
brief introduction to the language, population, history,
literature, foods, games, and crafts associated with the popular
culture of the Han Chinese, who make up more than 90 percent of the
population of China. The writings themselves--54 folktales, myths,
legends, and popular tales--take up the third part, and all are
well known among the Han Chinese. Yuan distinguishes between the
culture and tales of the Han Chinese and the cultures and tales of
minority ethnic Chinese. He will treat the latter in a second
volume, tentatively titled Princess Peacock and Tales of Other
Chinese Peoples (forthcoming, 2007). Two appendixes, Chinese
Proverbs and Motifs and Tale Sources, plus the glossary and
references make this book useful to both scholars and the
uninitiated. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates
through faculty; general readers.
*Choice*
The author balances traditionality and modern transformations of
customs, performing arts, music, games, and storytelling to convey
a dynamic picture of their historical development. The brevity of
the first two parts, along with powerful illustrations, effectively
draws an informative sketch of China in a limited number of
pages.
*Journal of Folklore Research*
The book, written with verve and simplicity, is in a style that
makes it interesting for readers of all ages. Clearly it is written
by a person who really enjoys and understands his topic. It is a
wonderful introduction to Chinese culture and one of the best books
that I have read on Chinese folk tales.
*Daily News (Bowling Green, KY)*
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