Chinese folk literature
Folk literature ( Chinese 民间 文学 , Pinyin mínjiàn wénxué - “folk literature”) isvery much valuedin Chinese culture and is of great importance there. Chinese folk literature has a large volume, and the development of Chinese literature has been greatly influenced by folk literature. Folk literature was written by both Han Chinese and ethnic minorities .
As a term, folk literature initially describes anonymous works of folk culture such as myths and fairy tales, sagas and legends, folk songs, jokes, riddles and proverbs as well as anecdotes and similar forms. Oral works performed by professional narrators are also counted as folk literature in China. These are called "spoken and sung literature", and the earliest form they have come down to is the Bianwen of the Tang period . Oral literature genres are popular in China to this day.
Chinese mythology was handed down early on in classical literature, initially in fragments, e.g. B. in the Chuci and in Shanhaijing . The Shi Jing and the Yuefu already contain folk songs, among other collections, and individuals are also known as collectors of folk songs, e.g. B. Feng Menglong .
Chinese poetry was formally heavily influenced by folk poetry, such as the Shi and Ci . The narrative literature in China was shaped by fairy tales, sagas, legends and anecdotes.
The various genres of folk literature have constantly influenced each other through material adaptations and new subjects and styles are often created. Likewise, the ancient and modern art of storytelling and drama in China continually adopted new material from folk literature.
Since the May 4th Movement , the scholarly recording and collection of folk literature began under Western influence. This is being systematically continued in Taiwan and the People's Republic of China .
literature
- Volker Klöpsch , Eva Müller (Ed.): Lexicon of Chinese Literature. CH Beck, Munich 2004.