Exploring Folk Culture in Mo Yan's Novels from an Animal Perspective: A Case Study of Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out

School of Literature, Nanchang Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330000, China

^* Corresponding author: hongyun@ldy.edu.rs

Abstract

In the novel Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out, Mo Yan integrates extensive folk culture, including proverbs, folklore, and folk art, which carries significant cultural meaning. This paper systematically analyzes three primary types of folk culture present in Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out through the lens of animal narration: agricultural customs, market customs, and folk beliefs. Regarding agricultural customs, this study illustrates the unique folk agricultural practices of Gaomi from the perspectives of animal husbandry and land cultivation. In terms of market customs, the paper examines changes in market folk culture through livestock trading and processions, reflecting the era's characteristics. As for folk beliefs, the discussion is divided into reverence for humanity and admiration for wildness, showcasing the animal worship mindset prevalent in Gaomi. This approach further expands and innovates the research perspective on the folk culture within Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out, enabling a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the significance of the author's folk writing.