When the apes finally evolved into Man, they awoke to find a world they enjoyed and innumerable things which were beyond their imagination. Wow! Why? Fantastic folk tales were thus created.
Such tales were passed down through history orally, but are still told today. The more recent versions are, of course, masterpieces of modern fi ction.
This book is highlighted with the inclusion of the Four Most-Favored Folk Love Tales of China.
Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (or The Butterfly Lovers). It is a Chinese legend about the tragic romance between two lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who died for love and became reincarnated as two butterfl ies flying freely together. The legend is often regarded as the Chinese equivalent of Romeo and Juliet.
Legend of the White Snake. It is an ancient Chinese story in which a snake lady one day happened to meet a scholar and they fell in love and got married. They enjoyed their life, but unfortunately suffered from the evil ministrations of a sorcerer-monk.
Great Wall Collapse as Meng Jiang Nu Cried. Meng Jiang Nu is said to have trudged a great distance to the Great Wall with the purpose of bringing winter clothes for her husband, a Wall builder. On learning that he was dead and buried under the Great Wall, she cried so loudly that a large section of the Great Wall collapsed over her.
The Cowherd and the Weaver Maid (or Niu Lang and Zhi Nu). This tells of the source ofthe Chinese equivalent ofValentine’s Day, which is comparably romantic yet heartrending, because this is the only time of year when the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid meet each other across the Milky Way.
In China, operas, plays, music and movies, based on the theme of folk tales, are very popular. From these, our readers, especially those are still young, will gain a love and understanding of traditional Chinese culture.
