Chine

Fine English Paperback. Roy. 8vo. (24 x 17 cm). In English and list of characters in Chinese. 294 p. A type index of Chinese folktales: In the oral tradition and major works of non-religious classical literature (FF Communications No. 223). Nai-Tung Ting's work on the Chinese folktale provides an interesting example in this regard. At a cursory investigation, the work appears to have been done impeccably. It is bearing testimony to the high level of scholarly asceticism that has characterized so many of those who have fallen under the shadow of the Finnish Academy. The indexing system is efficiently laid out and easy to use. It lends itself readily to eventual computerization and will undoubtedly save all the research headaches and frustrations it has been arranged to. For this it merits the highest praise, as also for the actual amount of material that the author has gathered up and sifted through for us. The bibliography runs to well over 700 entries, many of them sizable volumes or collections running to several volumes. It is composed almost entirely of twentieth century editions up until 1973. Given the breadth and depth of the nation with the world's largest population, and probably also the largest active folk tradition, we have reason to be grateful for efforts such as this. (In a nice flourish of conscientious apologetics, the author even informs us that one particular source had to be skimmed through quickly because the poor quality of the copy hurt his eyes!)