). 



PREFACE 



My interest in folktales was first aroused by Prof. Archer Taylor. Dr. Wolfram 

 Derhard, of the University of California, author of books and articles on Asiatic 

 Ik stories, has given needed and valuable suggestions as to the classification of 

 e Ch'uan Miao songs, stories, and folktales. The Library of Congress has been 

 Onerous and kind in permitting me to use its books and rooms. The American 

 useum of Natural History presented me with pictures of its Ch'uan Miao 

 nbroideries, which were collected by me, with permission to use them. Last but 

 3t least, the Wenner-Gren Foundation (Viking Fund) granted me a post-doctoral 

 llowship, which enabled me to take time to prepare this material for publication, 

 id also contributed substantially toward the cost of publishing this volume. To 

 1 these and other friends who have kindly assisted, I gladly express my deep and 

 licere thanks and appreciation. 



Dr. Wolfram Eberhard has classified the folktales according to motifs in his 

 Typen chinesischer Volksmiirchen," and Dr. Stith Thompson has classified 

 iem according to the motifs in his "Motif-index of Folk Literature." Their classi- 

 cations are included in the Appendix. The assistance and cooperation of these two 

 cholars are much appreciated. 



About 60 songs, stories, folktales, legends, and ceremonies are reprinted from 

 jvo short articles by the writer published in the Journal of the West China Border 

 esearch Society: The Ceremonies of the Ch'uan Miao, vol. 9, 1937, and The 

 egends of the Ch'uan Miao, vol. 10, 1938. 



