Folklore

Storytelling is the oldest and most fundamental form of human discourse and an essential cultural activity in human life. Stories are an artistic expression of language, and language is the medium through which stories are communicated. To explore the origins of stories, one must understand the relationship among the origin of humans, the emergence of language, and the development of stories. This includes studying the driving mechanisms behind human evolution from animals to humans, the historical background of language development, the intrinsic logical connections between figurative thinking and narrative, and the unique functions of storytelling. Only in this way can we gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and stories, and the roots of stories in culture.