Research Article

Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature

Volume: 9 Number: 1 August 16, 2026
TR EN

Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature

Abstract

The Legend of the White Snake, Meng Jiangnü, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, and The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are considered the Four Great Chinese Legends. In the field of English children’s literature, existing adaptations of the legends are mainly realized through several channels: standalone picture books, comprehensive anthologies of Chinese stories, and bilingual editions. Through reviewing existing scholarship and establishing its theoretical foundation within translation studies, children’s literature theory and picturebook theory, this study examines the strategies used to reshape the stories for child readers to accommodate the English context, including simplification of language, narrative compression, shift of the narrative perspective and reenforcing applaudable values. This study will deepen understanding of cross-cultural storytelling, adaptation practices, and the role of children’s literature in shaping global cultural awareness and reveal how traditional narratives are transformed to meet the expectations of new linguistic, cultural, and generational audiences while continuing to carry enduring cultural meanings.

Keywords

Project Number

Shandong Provincial Social Science Planning Research Project “Study on the English Translation and Adaptation of the Legend of the White Snake” (山东省社会科学规划研究项目“白蛇传传说英译与改编研究” 21CWWJ03)

Ethical Statement

This research is based on the analysis of published texts and does not involve human participants or animals. Therefore, ethical approval was not required. The author confirms that all sources have been properly acknowledged and that the study adheres to academic integrity and ethical research standards.

References

  1. Carpenter, F. (1937, 2001). Tales of a Chinese Grandmother (M. Hasselriis, Illus.). Tuttle Publishing.
  2. Chang, M. A. (2002). Review. School Library Journal. http://www.aaronshep.com/book/WhiteSnake.html Cho, S. (2018). Transforming gender and emotion: the Butterfly Lovers story in China and Korea. University of Michigan Press.
  3. Ho, L.-L. (2025). The legend of Madam White Snake: escape from Leifeng Pagoda and The legend of Madam White Snake: schemes and secrets (J. Y. Koo, Illus.). WS Education.
  4. Idema, W. L. (2012). Old tales for new times: Some comments on the cultural translation of China's four great folktales in the twentieth century. Taiwan Journal of East Asian Studies, 9(1), 25–46. https://doi.org/10.6163/tjeas.2012.9(1)25
  5. Liu, H. 刘海栖. (2001). A Museum of Chinese Classic Stories (七夕乞巧). Trans. Fu D. 傅大伟. Tomorrow Publishing House (明天出版社).
  6. Luo, L. (2021). The Global White Snake. University of Michigan Press.
  7. Nodelman, P. (1988). Words about pictures: the narrative art of children’s picture books. University of Georgia Press.
  8. Oittinen, R. (2002). Translating for Children. Taylor & Francis.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Children's Literature

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 16, 2026

Submission Date

June 1, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

APA
Wang, L. (2026). Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı Ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR), 9(1). https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD
AMA
1.Wang L. Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR). 2026;9(1). https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD
Chicago
Wang, Li. 2026. “Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature”. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı Ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR) 9 (1). https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD.
EndNote
Wang L (August 1, 2026) Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR) 9 1
IEEE
[1]L. Wang, “Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature”, Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR), vol. 9, no. 1, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD
ISNAD
Wang, Li. “Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature”. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR) 9/1 (August 1, 2026). https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD.
JAMA
1.Wang L. Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR). 2026;9. Available at https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD.
MLA
Wang, Li. “Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature”. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı Ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR), vol. 9, no. 1, Aug. 2026, https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD.
Vancouver
1.Li Wang. Adaptations of the Four Great Chinese Legends in English Children’s Literature. Uluslararası Çocuk Edebiyatı ve Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi (ÇEDAR) [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;9(1). Available from: https://izlik.org/JA37LR27JD

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