1. 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

2. 孟姜女
Lady Meng Jiang

3. Traditional Beliefs:
The role of a woman: before marriage, after marriage
The role of a man: an ordinary man, an emperor
The mythical number: 3
The magic animals: swallow, crow, fish
The Great Wall
Key Figures:
Lady Mengjiang
Emperor Shihuang

4. 梁山伯与祝英台
Butterfly Lovers:
Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
Chinese Romeo and Juliet

5. Traditional beliefs:
Sworn brothers
Annual village fair
Arranged marriage
A matchmaker
The magic animals: mandarin ducks, goose
Buddhist impact:
Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy
Reincarnation
Key Figures:
Liang Shanbo
Zhu Yingtai

6. 牛郎织女
Altair and Vega:
The Weaving-girl
and the Cowherd

7. Traditional Beliefs:
An ideal family with two children: a boy and a daughter 好
A balanced family: husband, outside, woman, inside
Family rule: divide family property
The 7th day of the 7th lunar month: Chinese Valentine’s Day
Taoist impact:
The Queen Mother of the Western Heaven
Mortals vs. immortals

8. 白蛇传
Legend of the White-snake

9. Chinese Festivals:
Pure Brightness Festival
Dragon Boat Festival
Key Figures:
Xu Xian
Bai Niangzi
Xiao Qing
Fa Hai in a crab
Yue Lao
Famous Places:
The West Lake
The Broken Bridge
Jinshan Temple, Leifeng Pagoda
Folk customs:
One month celebration

10. Thank you!
Lei Ma
Chinese Deputy Director
The William and Mary Confucius Institute