Abstract
An unusually large number of Chinese nursery rhymes provide realistic depiction of women's life experiences over the long history of China. They tell about women's fears and concerns as well as hopes and dreams and even sufferings. They reflect the Chinese traditional attitude toward women as influenced by Confucian teachings. Those rhymes could be divided into three categories that represent the three stages of a woman's life: (1) childhood and before marriage, (2) the wedding, and (3) married life. These rhymes continue to provide enjoyment for children. More importantly, they are living history of Chinese women.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ayscough, F., Chinese Women: Yesterday and Today. New York: Da Capo Press, 1937.
Baker, H. D. R., Chinese Family and Kinship. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979.
Chang, P. N., Bound Feet & Western Dress. New York: Anchor Books, 1997.
Ebrey, P. B., The Inner Quarters. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1993.
Elvin, M., “Female virtue and the state in China,” in Past & Present. August 1984, 104.0, 111–152.
etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/HeaChin.html, accessed on 09/23/01.
Gunning, T. G., Creating Literacy Instruction for All Children. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 2000.
Headland, I. T., Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes. New York: Fleming H, Revell, 1900.
Headland, I. T., Chinese Boy and Girl. New York: Fleming H, Revell, 1901.
Hsu, F. L. K., American and Chinese: Passages to Differences. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii, 1981.
Hsu, F. L. K., Under the Ancestors' Shadow. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1967.
Lin, Y., My Country and My People. New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1936.
Mann, S., Precious Records. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1997.