The Scarecrow

Name: The Scarecrow
ISBN: 9787557523954

Ye ShengtaoJilin Fine Arts Press · ChinaJul 2020

4.5

Word count: 107K words
Chapters: 27
ISBN: 9787557523954

Report an error Find this book

Summary

Scarecrow is a selected collection of children’s literature by Ye Shengtao. First published in 1923, it contains 23 fairy tales and is the first collection of fairy tales in the history of modern Chinese literature. Lu Xun once said, “Scarecrow has opened a path of original creation for Chinese fairy tales.” This newly expanded edition of Scarecrow includes not only a large number of widely loved classic fairy tales but also selected folk tales, stories, poems, and short plays that Ye wrote specifically for children or adapted for them, making it the fullest expression of Ye Shengtao’s children’s literature.

Editor's review

Scarecrow is a classic collection of fairy tales by Mr. Ye Shengtao, one of the founders of modern Chinese literature, and has nourished several generations of Chinese readers since it was first published as a collection in 1923. As the first collection of original fairy tales in the history of modern Chinese literature, its historical status and literary value are self-evident. This book includes celebrated works such as “Scarecrow,” “The Stone Statue of an Ancient Hero,” and “A Seed.” With concise, plain, and poetic strokes, Mr. Ye Shengtao creates a fairy-tale world that is both close to children’s psychology and deeply reflective of social reality. The stories are far from simple fantasy adventures; they often praise qualities such as diligence, kindness, and honesty, and gently criticize selfishness, hypocrisy, and oppression. The title piece “Scarecrow,” for example, conveys deep sympathy and helplessness through the perspective of a scarecrow who witnesses human suffering but can do nothing about it. This ability to wrap profound meaning in simple narrative is precisely the key to the enduring vitality of Ye Shengtao’s fairy tales. Reading this book is not only a return to classics but also an experience of the pure beauty of Chinese and the serious yet warm original creative purpose of an early children’s literature writer. For today’s readers, especially young people, it offers a clear mirror that reflects innocence and imagination while also prompting preliminary thought about life and society.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young readers seeking classic children’s literature as an introduction
Parents who hope to read with their children and discuss values of life
Enthusiasts studying modern Chinese literature and the development of children’s literature
Readers who appreciate a style combining plain language with profound meaning

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plot conflict and fast narrative pacing
Readers expecting completely light and cheerful fairy tales for young children with no heavy elements

Reading tips

Read in order to appreciate the overall character and evolution of Ye Shengtao’s fairy-tale style.
While reading, refer as appropriate to the historical background in which the works were created (early twentieth-century China) to better understand the metaphors and concerns in the stories.
For pieces such as “Scarecrow” and “The Stone Statue of an Ancient Hero,” after finishing, set the book aside and ponder, or discuss their deeper meanings with others.

About the publisher

Jilin Fine Arts Press China · Founded in 1984

Jilin Fine Arts Press publishes across such categories as classic works, world literature, biography, art, inspirational growth, and popular science. Judging from the books in the collection, the press offers classical readings that emphasize textual editions and visual presentation, including the complete definitive edition of The Art of War with fine illustrations, the carefully translated and annotated edition of The Book of Songs with illustrations, and the rare full manuscript edition of Jen-chien Tz'u-hua. It also publishes modern literary classics such as Camel Xiangzi, Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk, and The Scarecrow, as well as a fully annotated edition of Nalan's Ci and biographical works such as Liang Qichao Zhuan. Its authors include Sun Wu, Lao She, Wang Guowei, Lu Xun, Ye Shengtao, and Confucius. Its publishing character lies in combining textual collation, annotation and commentary with illustration and binding, balancing reading convenience with aesthetic experience; public information on the press's fuller publishing scope is limited.

版权信息
出版说明
《稻草人》序
燕子
一粒种子
地球
梧桐子
旅行家
富翁
鲤鱼的遇险
眼泪
画眉
玫瑰和金鱼
祥哥的胡琴
瞎子和聋子
跛乞丐
快乐的人
小黄猫的恋爱故事
稻草人
牧羊儿
聪明的野牛
古代英雄的石像
书的夜话
皇帝的新衣
蚕和蚂蚁
熊夫人幼稚园
“鸟言兽语”

FAQ

Are the stories in Scarecrow suitable for young children to read independently?

Some stories have simple language and relatively simple plots and are suitable for parent-child reading or for children with some reading ability. But the deep emotions and social reflections in some pieces may require guidance from parents or educators to help children understand them better.

Compared with contemporary fairy tales or children’s fiction, what are the characteristics of this book?

Its greatest characteristics are its strong literary and social dimensions. Ye Shengtao’s fairy tales are not only stories for children but serious literary works, with refined and beautiful language and profound meaning, carrying the humanistic concern of a particular historical period. They differ markedly from many contemporary children’s books whose primary goals are entertainment and imagination.

Besides its value as fairy tales, does this book have other significance for reading?

Yes. As one of the founding works of modern Chinese children’s literature, it has important literary-historical value. At the same time, its pure and standard language is an excellent model for learning Chinese, and its pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty has universal educational significance beyond its time.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Ye Shengtao Author · Chinese · 1894–1988

Ye Shengtao (1894–1988), originally named Ye Shaojun and styled Bingchen, was a native of Suzhou, Jiangsu. He was a modern Chinese writer, educator, publisher, and social activist. He worked early on as an editor at the Commercial Press and Kaiming Bookstore, and edited journals such as Short Story Monthly and Middle School Students, leaving a profound influence on Chinese language education and publishing. His works include the novel Ni Huanzhi, the fairy-tale collection The Scarecrow, and short stories such as “Three More Dou of Rice” and “Mr. Pan in Distress.” His plain, concise language and careful observation earned him recognition as an outstanding language artist. The library holds 41 of his works, spanning classics, literary appreciation, language and writing, examinations, and education, including The Heart of Literature and the Kaiming New Chinese Readers. After the founding of New China, he served as Vice Minister of Education, president of the People’s Education Press, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.