Humour in Chinese Life and Letters: Classical and Traditional Approaches

By Jocelyn Chey and Jessica Milner Davis

How do Chinese societies approach humour in personal life and in the public sphere? This book addresses the etymological difficulties of "humour" as a concept in Chinese language and explores connections and contrasts with Western styles of humour. Periods discussed range from earliest times to the beginning of the twentieth century, covering many different forms of humour - verbal, visual and behavioural. The book brings together internationally respected scholars in Chinese studies with other specialists to explore humour through modes of enquiry in cultural and political history, linguistics, literature, drama and the history and philosophy of science. The unifying focus of the book is humour and laughter in their many forms in Chinese tradition and culture. Chapters are written in a common style. Readers more generally interested in humour and laughter -- not well-understood forms of human behaviour -- will also find the book casts light on significant differences in their concepts and practice between cultures.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 988808352X
• ISBN13: 9789888083527
• Release Date: October 2011
• Publisher: Hong Kong University Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 22 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher