Chinese Folktales

A collection of 15 classic folktales preserved through generations – in Chinese and Bulgarian

Welcome to the wonderful world of Chinese folklore! These fifteen stories raise universal questions — such as the origin of humanity, the impact of wars and natural disasters, the great deeds of famous heroes, the struggle for dignity and justice of ordinary people, and the longings of the human heart. This book is a window into the historical and cultural characteristics of China that remain relevant to this day. While the bilingual format and vocabulary lists are designed for language learners, those who do not speak Chinese can also enjoy these tales in Bulgarian.

Each folklore legend is presented in a parallel Chinese-Bulgarian format, followed by a brief essay on its historical context and its significance relative to other historical or contemporary events in China or elsewhere in the world. Each chapter concludes with several discussion questions, providing Chinese language learners with the opportunity to practice their conversational skills. Free online audio recordings allow readers to listen to the Chinese versions read by native speakers.

This edition features the beautiful illustrations of Yang Xi, an art instructor at Qingdao Huanghai University. Her unique style is influenced by both contemporary Chinese and Western trends. She holds a Master's degree from the College of Fine Arts at the Nanjing Institute of the Arts.