THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAOISM AND CHINESE FOLK NARRATIVES THROUGH LIU SHOUHUA'S THE ARTISTIC WORLD OF FOLK NARRATIVES

Abstract

The article examines the significant contributions of the Chinese scholar Liu Shouhua in analyzing the
relationship between Daoism and Chinese folk narratives, focusing on his seminal work The Artistic World of
Folk Narratives. His research lays a theoretical foundation for understanding the interplay between folk
narrative traditions and Daoism, revealing that Daoist influence is comprehensively reflected across the three
major genres꞉ myth, legend, and folktale. Liu's analyses not only illuminate the distinctive characteristics of
Chinese folk narratives but also broaden the scope of folklore studies by situating them in relation to indigenous
religion.