A book series containing rare documents related to Chinese folklore held in collections outside the country was finally introduced to the public after seven years of work by experts.

Chinese Folklore Documents Overseas was launched at the National Library of China in Beijing on Jan 20.

The series was compiled by the Institute of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage at Sun Yat-sen University and published by Shaanxi Normal University General Publishing House.

The first 18 books primarily focus on presenting original material, explains Wang Xiaobing, chief editor of the series.

"The processing of the materials can be divided into three main categories: the first involved the direct reprinting of folk artifacts and documents found outside China," Wang says.

Examples include images of tilling and weaving, paintings, contractual documents and shadow-puppet play scripts.

Researchers have added introductions, explanations and annotations to these documents, Wang says.

The second category consists of translations of records and studies of daily life in China made by Western visitors to the country between the 17th and 20th centuries.

This includes Western visitors' abstracts and summaries of the content of Chinese literary documents, ranging from travel accounts, fairy tales and folk songs, to information about ethics and folk customs.

The third category consists of specialized studies of overseas collections of folk materials. They include many precious images, documents and texts that demonstrate the deep cultural heritage and appeal of Chinese folklore.

"These documents reflect the daily lives of people during specific historical periods and in specific regions of China, as well as the interests and academic ideas of Western collectors," Wang says, adding that this category serves as a vivid testimony to the cross-border dissemination of modern Chinese culture, and the collision and exchange of Chinese and Western cultures.

"Some of the materials are being published for the first time in China," she says.

Wang says that she and her team discovered that the depth and breadth of the collections of Chinese folklore materials overseas far exceeded their initial expectations.

"Despite nearly seven years of exploration and effort, the documents and artifacts we have found can only be considered the tip of the iceberg," Wang says. "To fully catalog these overseas treasures is actually an extremely challenging task that cannot be completed by a single person or team in just a few years."

She stresses that the project has also helped open up new areas of research in folklore studies, and has delivered fruitful results.

Qu Ruixin, vice-president of Shaanxi Normal University General Publishing House, says the series was developed based on "the research related to the compilation, study and creation of a database of rare Chinese folk culture-related documents and cultural relics preserved overseas", which was a major 2016 National Social Science Fund project.

" (We) believe that the organization, research and publication of rare Chinese folk culture documents overseas are significantly important in preserving and passing on cultural heritage, as well as in promoting mutual exchanges and interactions among cultures," Qu says, explaining why the publishing house was interested in the prospect of cooperating with Wang and her team.

Qu says that Wang demonstrates a broad range of expertise that includes folklore, ethnology, Chinese literature, Japanese studies and economics, among other disciplines.

"With her extensive research experience and broad academic perspective, Wang is in communication and collaboration with research institutions and experts domestically and internationally," Qu says.

"She has also undertaken many significant research tasks closely linked to overseas contacts, laying a solid foundation for the smooth running of this project."

The series includes many precious images, documents and texts that Qu says showcase the richness of Chinese folk culture.

"Due to the advanced age of the materials, and tasks such as translating foreign-language documents, compiling color illustrations and reproducing original texts, the editing and proofreading were challenging, and the restoration and design of the images were time-consuming and labor-intensive," Qu says. "However, the team and project group overcame these difficulties, persevered in their efforts and contributed to the rescue of cultural heritage held in different parts of the world."

He believes the publication of these initial achievements will allow more people to understand and come to love China's folk culture.

"The series will promote a greater emphasis on the study of documents and artifacts in Chinese folklore studies. It will also provide new research materials for disciplines, such as historical anthropology, bibliography, cultural relics and linguistics, and the research produced by overseas Sinologists will open up new perspectives on folklore research," Qu says.

Thierry Meynard, a professor with the philosophy department of Sun Yat-sen University, says that he is especially drawn to a book titled Collection of Japanese Artifacts Detailing Trade With China During the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

"I believe that this kind of book is meaningful. It's informative, and the layout is also exquisite," the French national says.

Meynard points to the historical research on trade and folklore contained in the book, including information about the relationship between folk customs and complex, nuanced human connections.

"While going through the book, I was able to read about interactions and exchanges among Chinese, Japanese and Westerners during that era. So this is very valuable information."

Zhang Juwen, a professor of Chinese studies at Willamette University, believes the series has at least two significant meanings.

"On one hand, it provides us with historical materials from different perspectives to reflect on the evolution of modern Chinese cultural traditions," Zhang says.

"On the other hand, it establishes and promotes a model of learning from the strengths of others and then refining what has been learned, because this series not only translates texts but, more importantly, provides positive and critical commentary from a historical perspective."

Zhang has read two books in the series — Proverbs and Common Sayings From the Chinese and Chinese Fairy Tales — and says that he notices that the team not only chose to translate words to align with changes in Chinese culture and the contemporary context but also provided critical commentary on the original author and historical background of the text.

"This is a commendable model. I believe the significance of this series transcends the boundaries of nations, cultures and eras."

At the book launch, a copy of the series was donated to the National Library of China.

It will enrich the existing folk culture collection in the National Library of China, says Shen Xiaojuan, head of the library's research institute, adding that the books' addition to the national library will enable scholars and the general public to make use of these rare documents.

According to Wang, the study of folklore is a discipline steeped in both historical materials and field research.

"We hope that through a thorough examination of these materials, we will not only strengthen the foundations of the discipline but also contribute to the development of other disciplines, such as literature, history, museology, religious studies, art and anthropology," she says.

"However, the conclusion of the project does not mean the end of research. There are still many materials overseas for us to explore, as well as organize and interpret, and many new questions are worth further exploration."