Values of cultural worlds in Russian and Chinese tales

Fairy tales express collective memory of the peoples' folk art and folklore, they are one of the main parts of national culture. Fairy tales are deeply national: creating national images of the world, life and people, fairy tales recreate a picture of the world and the image of a person, and they are aimed at the broadcast of spiritual and moral values. The article explores Russian and Chinese popular folk tales. Author conducts their comparative ethnographic analysis in order to identify national values and cultural meanings. In this paper, the author pays special attention to the definition of the general foundations of folklore, the differences in the types of thinking and creativity of the two nations on the basis of their notions of peace and human life. Relying on the basis for the definition and classification of fairy tales, the author emphasizes the importance of the etymological and cultural - content interpretation of the fairy tale in Russian and Chinese culture. Fairy tales through different subjects and situations open a new world for children, give them knowledge and life experience, help them create certain ideas about the world and human life. One of the main functions of a fairy tale is the formation of behavioral stereotypes of future members of an adult society that support firm convictions and strengthen moral values. The value of fairy tales, both Russian and Chinese, is to demonstrate best qualities of the peoples of the world. Moral values, represented in the images of national cultural heroes, are reflected in real life. They turn into moral standards of life, regulating the actions and desires of children. The author compares 10 popular Russian and Chinese tales, and, on the basis of a comparison of the main plots and fairy-tale characters, reveals typical systems of life values, focusing on the key attitudes of the character and behavior of two peoples and two cultures: Russia and China. During the analysis, the author makes an assumption about the similarities and differences in the values of Russian and Chinese tales. As a result of the research, the author comes to the conclusion that national or folk tales play an important role in the upbringing of children. They serve as an example of moral education and become a precious spiritual gift for children in Russia and China. Since each nation has its own unique culture, we must learn from each other.

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