Conceptualization of Nature in Chinese and Russian Folklore Tales

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze nature as a basic linguistic and cultural concept in Chinese and Russian folklore tales, to identify common and different in its verbalization and perception in folklore tales of two linguistic cultures. The object of the study is Russian and Chinese folklore fairy tales. The subject is a comparative analysis of linguistic means of conceptualizing nature in Russian and Chinese fairy tales. The author examines the descriptions of nature in Chinese and Russian folk tales, the relationship of the heroes of fairy tales with nature. Particular attention is paid to the linguo-axiological aspect of nature and the identification of differences in the linguistic representation of nature and attitudes towards it in the two linguistic cultures. The scientific novelty of the work is due to the lack of research on the concept of nature in a comparative aspect in Chinese and Russian linguistic cultures. As a result, it was found that in Chinese and Russian folklore tales nature is described as a basic value – a source of kindness and harmony. The author comes to the conclusion that the main differences in the conceptualization of nature in Chinese and Russian folklore tales are in the expression of the idea of fighting nature. The heroes of Chinese fairy tales resist the challenges of nature, while Russian fairy-tale characters use nature as a source of magical powers, with the help of which they subsequently achieve success.