The world of Chinese fictional narratives: content, characters and social impact

Abstract

Chinese narratives in their various forms serve as an invaluable source of information about China, its rich history and culture, its citizens’ identity, values, and the way they conceptualize reality. This paper is part of a broader research of Chinese narratives that is being carried out by a group of Russian scholars. The study is done on the intersection of different disciplines, mainly linguistics, semiotics, and communication studies. The approach taken in the study can be described as a mixed method research design, in which narrative analysis is employed as the leading method. The paper discusses the universal and culturally specific dimensions of fictional narratives, with an emphasis on myth; analyses Chinese fictional narratives as an instrument of conceptualizing reality through the prism of national identity, mentality, and worldview; investigates the influence of mythological constructs on modern Chinese society. The findings indicate that the results of the research can be further extended to other types of Chinese narratives and can lead to their practical application in text interpretation, education, literature studies, and intercultural communication contexts.