Genre Categories

The textual sources of the database are organized into three main categories:

• Oral Performances

  Performances recorded on radio, audio-tape, video-tape, CD, VCD, DVD, film, etc. The oral texts from these source materials are available on the database in transcriptions into Chinese characters and in English translations.

• Written Genres for Performance and Reading

  Texts with a close relationship to performed genres of drama, xiqu 戲曲 and telling and singing arts, shuochang 說唱. Such texts often imply a twofold purpose: on one hand, as aide-memoire or script for performers of the given genre in oral tradition; on the other hand, as reading material for the aficionados of the oral genre or for the general public. This part of the source materials is available on the database in scannings of the original sources, in transcriptions into Chinese characters and in English translations.

• Written Genres for Reading

  Texts belonging to genres that are mainly produced as reading material for a general readership. This part of the source materials is available on the database in scannings of the original sources, in transcriptions into Chinese characters and in English translations.