Chinese Folktales for Language Learners

A collection of 15 classic Chinese folk stories – passed down from generation to generation – presented in both Chinese and English.

Welcome to the land of Chinese folklore, a delightful corner of the Chinese heritage that remains relatively unexplored in Western publications. Throughout history the medium of storytelling and the performing arts allowed folklore to flourish, bringing culture and entertainment to the common people. These stories are about universal human concerns such as the origin of humankind, impact of wars and natural disasters, legendary cultural heroes, dignity and justice for the common folks, and yearnings of the human heart. Each story is given in parallel Chinese and English versions, and is accompanied by a short essay about its historical context, a vocabulary list, discussion questions, and native speaker audio recordings.