Tan Zhenshan's folk stories

Year: 2006

Sort: Folk Literature

Area: Liaoning province

Serial No.: I-20

Declarer: Xinmin city, Liaoning province

Tan Zhenshan's folk stories, which are the representation of folk literature along the drainage area of the Liaohe River, are under application for Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity status as of 2006.

The legendary storyteller Tan Zhenshan, born in 1925, has lived on the so-called black earth of northeastern China for 80 years. Tan can tell over 600 folk stories; from those about old customs to those about spirits. Tan says his good health is due to sitting under a big old tree in the village and telling stories.

In 1992, Tan was invited to the International Folk Art Expo in Japan to tell these amazing stories of his. Tan was also the first folk storyteller asked to lecture in a university while he himself had dropped out after graduating from elementary school.

In 1988 "A collection of Tan Zhenshan's Stories", which contained 53 of his tales, was published by the local government.