Filial Piety and Its Divine Rewards —— The Legend of Dong Yong and Weaving Maiden with Related Texts

----- 孝道及其神圣的回报：董勇与织女的传说及相关文献

ISBN: 9781603841351 出版年：2009 页码：144 Wilt L Idema Hackett Publishing

Of the many ballads, tales, and plays extolling filial piety (xiao )--the foundational virtue of imperial China--none was more popular in that era than the legend of Dong Yong and his heavenly helpmate, Weaving Maiden. Continually revised and embellished over a millennium, the tale's popularity remains, finding new expression in Chinese film and opera in the twentieth century. The five versions of the legend presented here, alongside a selection of related texts, illustrate changing perceptions of xiao from the tenth century through the first part of the twentieth in a variety of genres. An appendix traces the development of the related legend of Weaving Maiden and Buffalo Boy from myth to folktale. Wilt L. Idema's Introduction traces the evolution of the central legend and its significance in the history of Chinese popular culture. Annotations explaining terms and references that may be unfamiliar to Western readers, a glossary, and a comprehensive bibliography further enhance the value of this book for both scholars and students.