Four Chinese Folk Legends Throughout Chinese history there
- Slides: 10
Four Chinese Folk Legends _Throughout Chinese history, there are many great lengends revealing the agricultural society. _They existed in oral tradition long before any writen compilation. _Some have been presented in a number of major Chinese operas, films and television series. _Among them, the most famous ones are: Lady Meng Jiang Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai The Weaving-girl and the Cowherd Legend of the White-snake
孟姜女 Lady Meng Jiang
Traditional Beliefs: 1. The role of a woman: before marriage, after marriage 2. The role of a man: an ordinary man, an emperor 3. The mythical number: 3 4. The magic animals: swallow, crow, fish 5. The Great Wall Key Figures: 1. Lady Mengjiang 2. Emperor Shihuang
梁山伯与祝英台 Butterfly Lovers: Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai Chinese Romeo and Juliet
Traditional beliefs: 1. Sworn brothers 2. Annual village fair 3. Arranged marriage 4. A matchmaker 5. The magic animals: mandarin ducks, goose Buddhist impact: 1. Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy 2. Reincarnation Key Figures: 1. Liang Shanbo 2. Zhu Yingtai
牛郎织女 Altair and Vega: The Weaving-girl and the Cowherd
Traditional Beliefs: 1. An ideal family with two children: a boy and a daughter 好 2. A balanced family: husband, outside, woman, inside 3. Family rule: divide family property 4. The 7 th day of the 7 th lunar month: Chinese Valentine’s Day Taoist impact: 1. The Queen Mother of the Western Heaven 2. Mortals vs. immortals
白蛇传 Legend of the White-snake
Chinese Festivals: 1. Pure Brightness Festival 2. Dragon Boat Festival Key Figures: 1. Xu Xian 2. Bai Niangzi 3. Xiao Qing 4. Fa Hai in a crab 5. Yue Lao Famous Places: 1. The West Lake 2. The Broken Bridge 3. Jinshan Temple, Leifeng Pagoda Folk customs: One month celebration
Thank you! Lei Ma Chinese Deputy Director The William and Mary Confucius Institute lma@wm. edu
