The Guyuyan folk stories

Year: 2006

Sort: Folk Literature

Area: Liaoning province

Serial No.: I-18

Declarer: Dawa county, Liaoning province

As the only oral record of the ancient oceanic civilization of China, Guyuyan folk stories are rare. They are under application for the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Since ancient times a group of fishermen from Shanxi province would gather in Erjiegou near the Liao River in northern China. These men called themselves the "wild goose fishermen". They called themselves this because they were nomadic fishermen that moved about according to the season and where the fish were, just like migratory geese.

Migratory fishermen have always been a minority in China and their culture is mostly absent from any official records. The Liao River Fishermen are the only ones who still follow this lifestyle today.

The migratory fisherman’s folklore includes, along with legends and folk stories, ways to use fishing gear, how to build ships, and explanations of sailing skills. Presently the folklore of the migratory fishermen is in urgent need of protection.