Proverbium (Aug 2021)
CONSTRUCTING CHINESE PAREMIOLOGY
Abstract
The studies of Chinese proverbs entered a new stage since 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded, following the inceptive stage in the early 20th century when Chinese folklore studies began to take shape by introducing the Western theories and concepts. From 1949-2019, Chinese proverb studies have systemically developed into a research area through collection, categorization and analysis. In particular, the Grand Collection of Chinese Proverbs project in the late 20th century set an epochal mark in collecting proverbs in use, and in building academic discourses both at domestic and international levels. This essay surveys this history of seventy years in terms of collection and theoretical studies within the context of Chinese folk literature and folklore studies.
