Abstract
Was there no humour or general concept of humour in China before 1923? That was when the Chinese writer, translator and inventor Lin Yutang 林語堂 (1895–1976) claimed that “orthodox Chinese literature did not allow for humorous expression, so the Chinese people did not understand the nature of humor and its function”.1 While youmo 幽 默 is now standard usage in everyday Chinese, having replaced other earlier neologisms, what has happened to the faculty of “humorous expression” and its social functions since then? Did they emerge under Lin’s care and did they survive subsequent massive social changes intact, or were they suppressed or changed beyond recognition?
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Humour in Chinese Life and Letters: Classical and Traditional Approaches |
| Editors | Jocelyn Chey, Jessica Milner Davis |
| Place of Publication | Hong Kong |
| Publisher | Hong Kong University Press |
| Pages | 1-29 |
| Number of pages | 29 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9789888053940 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9789888083510 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Chinese
- humor