Nursery rhymes represent a distinctive cultural phenomenon with a longstanding history of circulation in China. Beyond their role in early childhood education, these rhymes have historically functioned as a vehicle for expressing public opinion on dynastic shifts and political events in ancient Chinese society, as well as a primary medium for imparting knowledge and moral values to children. This study explores the evolution of ancient Chinese nursery rhymes, uncovering the traditional ways of life, festival customs, and spiritual beliefs embedded within them. From a cultural perspective, nursery rhymes serve not only as linguistic tools for social learning but also as systematic reflections of regional and ethnic cultures at the linguistic level.
Chen, Guangting (2022) Púxiān míngrén qùshì. [Anecdotes of famous people from Putian and Xianyou.] Fúzhōu: Hǎixiá Wényì Chūbǎn Shè. [Fuzhou: Straits Literature and Art Publishing House.]
Chen, Hongmou (2015) Wǔ zhǒng yíguī. [Five moral guidelines.] Běijīng: Xiànzhuāng Shūjú. [Beijing: Xianzhuang Publishing House.]
Chen, Shou (2009) Sānguó Zhì. [Records of the Three Kingdoms.] Wǔhàn: Chóngwén Shūjú. [Wuhan: Chongwen Book Company.]
Chen, Shuguo (2023) SiShū Wǔjīng. [Four Books and Five Classics] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
China Folk Songs Integration Editorial Committee of Fujian Volume (2007) Zhōngguó gēyáo jíchéng: Fújiàn juàn. [China folk songs integration: Fujian volume.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó ISBN Zhōngxīn. [Beijing: China ISBN Center.]
Dong, Zuobin(1923) “Gēyáo fāngyīn yǔ fāngyán”. [Nursery rhymes, dialects and regional languages.] Gēyáo [Journal of Folk Songs] 32, 1–5.
Du, Wenlan (1992) Gǔ yáo yàn. [Ancient folk sayings.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
Editorial Committee of the Encyclopedia of China (1998) Zhōngguó wénxué juǎn. [Encyclopedia of China: literature volume.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó Dà Bǎikē Quánshū Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House.]
Fang, Jing (2007) Huīzhōu mínyáo. [Folk songs of Huizhou]. Héféi: Héféi Gōngyè Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Hefei: Hefei University of Technology Press.]
Gao, Fan (1992) Shíyòng ér gē jiàn shǎng dàquán. [Comprehensive guide to practical nursery rhyme appreciation.] Lánzhōu: Gānsù Shàonián Értóng Chūbǎn Shè. [Lanzhou: Gansu Children’s Publishing House.]
Guo, Maoqian (2003) Yuèfǔ shījí. [Anthology of Yuefu poetry.] Běijīng: Xīyuàn Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: Xiyuan Publishing House.]
Han, Fei (1989) Hán Fēi Zǐ. [Han Feizi.] Shàng Hǎi: Shàng Hǎi Gǔ Jí Chū Bǎn Shè. [Shanghai:Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Headland, I. T. (2017) Chinese mother goose rhymes. Xī’ān: Zhèjiāng Rénmín Měishù Chūbǎn Shè. [Xi’an: Zhejiang People’s Fine Arts Publishing House.]
Jin, Honglian (2022) Jīngjīnjí Míngē Jīn Yào. [Essentials of folk songs in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.] Qīnhuángdǎo: Yānshān Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Qinhuangdao: Yanshan University Press.]
Lie, Yukou (2018) Lièzǐ. [Liezi.] Běijīng: Zhōnghuá Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.]
Lin, Baoqing (1995) “Mǐnnán fāngyán zhōng de Gǔ Hàn Yǔ Huó Huà Shí jǔ yú”.[An Example of Ancient Chinese ‘living fossils’ in Minnan dialect.] Yǔwén yánjiū [Language and Literature Research] 4, 62–66.
Lin, Baoqing (2014) “Mǐn Nán Fāng Yán Shì Gǔ Hàn Yǔ De Huó Huà Shí”. [The Minnan dialect is a living fossil of ancient Chinese.]Mǐn Tái Wén Huà Yán Jiū [Minnan and Taiwan Cultural Studies] 3, 102–105.
Liu, Zutong (1932) Xiān Yóu Gē Yáo. [Xianyou folk songs.] Mín Jiān Yuè Kān [Folk Monthly.] 11, 157–158.
Lü Desheng (2003) Xiǎo’ér yǔ wài bā zhǒng. [Children’s language and eight other forms.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Book Company.]
Tian, Hongmei (2018) Shízuǐshān mínjiān gēyáo. [Folk Songs of Shizuishan] Yínchuān: Níngxià Rénmín Jiàoyù Chūbǎn shè. [Yinchuan: People Education Publishing House.]
Vitale, B. G. (2023) Pekiness rhymes. Xī’ān: Shǎnxī Shīfàn Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Xi’an: Shaanxi Normal University Publishing House.]
Wang, Chong (1990) Lùnhéng. [Lunheng.] Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎn Shè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Wang, Chang (2012) Gǔdiǎn shīcí qūmíngjù jiànshǎng. [Appreciation of famous lines in classical poetry and songs.] Tàiyuán: Shānxī Jīngjì Chūbǎn Shè. [Taiyuan: Shanxi Economic Publishing House.]
Wang, Yangming (2012) Chuánxí Lù. [Chuanxi Lu.] Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎn Shè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Wei, Zheng (1973) Suí shū. [Sui shu.] Zhōng Huá Shū Jú. [Zhonghua Book Company.]
Xue, li (1994) Zhōnghuá mínsú yuánliú jíchéng (yǐnshí juǎn). [Comprehensive compilation of Chinese folk customs: food volume.] Lánzhōu: Gānsù Rénmín Chūbǎn Shè. [Lanzhou: Gansu People’s Publishing House.]
Yu, Xiaoting and Fu, Jianming (2015) “Xiàoyuán tóngyáo yǔ xiǎoxué xiàoyuán shēnghuó déyù”. [Campus nursery rhymes and moral education in elementary school campus life.] Húnán Shīfàn Dàxué Jiàoyù Kēxué Xuébào. [Journal of Educational Science of Hunan Normal University],6, 53–57.
Zhang, Chunli and Li, Suying (2021) Yòu’éryuán chuántǒng wénhuà zhǔtí jiàoyù huódòng kèchéng. [Curriculum of traditional culture theme education activities for kindergartens.] Qīnhuángdǎo: Yānshān Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Qinhuangdao: Yanshan University Publishing House.]
Zhang, Jinping (2021) Zhōngguó fǎzhì tōngshǐ (dì 7 Juǎn). [Comprehensive history of the Chinese legal system,] Vol. 7. Běijīng: Zhōngguó Fǎzhì Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: China Legal Publishing House.]
Zhang, Mengqian (2012) Zài jiàoyù shìjiè de biānyuán: Zhōngguó chuántǒng tóngyáo yánjiū. [On the margins of the educational world: a study of traditional Chinese nursery rhymes.] Tàiyuán: Shānxī Jiàoyù Chūbǎn Shè. [Taiyuan: Shanxi Education Publishing House.]
Zhang, Shishan (2012) Chūn Jié: Yī Gè Mín Zú De Biǎo Qíng Yǔ Xīn Shì. [Spring festival: nations expressions and emotions.] Zhōng Huá Wén Huà Huà Bào [Chinese Culture Pictorial Journal.] 1, 114–117.
Zheng, Xudan (1929) Tiānlài jí. [Collection of heavenly sounds.] Běijīng: Zhōngyuán Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhongyuan Publishing House.]
Zheng, Yanting (2022). Pǔ Xiān tóng yáo jiào yù yùn yì yán jiū. [A study on the educational implications of Puxian nursery rhymes. Master thesis.] Fú Jiàn Shī Fàn Dà Xué. [Fujian Normal University.]
Zheng, Yiyi (2011) “Mínjiān tóngyáo chuánchéng de yòu’ér yìshù jiàoyù cuòshī”. [Strategies for early childhood artistic education in folk nursery rhyme heritage.] Wényì Zhēngmíng [Literature and Art Contention] 8, 171–173.
Zheng, Yueqin (2017) “Jīyú Ér tóng Wénxué Kāizhǎn Yòu’ér Yuán Yǔyán Jiàoyù huódòng”. [Developing language education activities in kindergarten based on children’s literature.] Xuéqián Jiàoyù Yánjiū [Early Childhood Education Research] 8, 70–72.
Zhou, Bingjun (2012) Shàngshū. [Shangshu.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
Zhou, Gongdan (2016) Yílǐ [Yili]. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎnshè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Zhou, Xiaofei (2017) Wáng zhìpǔ. Mínsú wénhuà yǔ Zhōngyīxué. [Folk Culture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó Zhōngyīyào Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: Chinese Traditional Medicine Publishing House.]
Zhu, Jiaxiong (1987) Yòu’ér jiātíng jiàoyù dàquán. [comprehensive guide to early childhood family education.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó Línyè Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House.]
Zhu, Xi (2023) Mèngqiú tóngméng xūzhī. [Mengqiu and essential knowledge for young learners.] Běijīng: Zhōnghuá Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.]
Zhu, Yizun (1993) Míng shī zōng 2. [Comprehensive collection of Ming Dynasty poetry,] Vol. 2. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎn Shè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Zhu, Jiansong (2011) Wǔhàn mínjiān gēyáo. [Wuhan Folk Songs.] Wǔhàn: Huázhōng Shīfàn Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Wuhan: Central China Normal University Publishing House.]
Zuo, Qiuming (1988) Zuǒ Zhuàn. [Zuo Zhuan.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
Zuo, Qiuming (2013) Guóyǔ. [Guoyu.] Běijīng: Zhōnghuá Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.]Chen, Guangting (2022) Púxiān míngrén qùshì. [Anecdotes of famous people from Putian and Xianyou.] Fúzhōu: Hǎixiá Wényì Chūbǎn Shè. [Fuzhou: Straits Literature and Art Publishing House.]
Chen, Hongmou (2015) Wǔ zhǒng yíguī. [Five moral guidelines.] Běijīng: Xiànzhuāng Shūjú. [Beijing: Xianzhuang Publishing House.]
Chen, Shou (2009) Sānguó Zhì. [Records of the Three Kingdoms.] Wǔhàn: Chóngwén Shūjú. [Wuhan: Chongwen Book Company.]
Chen, Shuguo (2023) SiShū Wǔjīng. [Four Books and Five Classics] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
China Folk Songs Integration Editorial Committee of Fujian Volume (2007) Zhōngguó gēyáo jíchéng: Fújiàn juàn. [China folk songs integration: Fujian volume.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó ISBN Zhōngxīn. [Beijing: China ISBN Center.]
Dong, Zuobin(1923) “Gēyáo fāngyīn yǔ fāngyán”. [Nursery rhymes, dialects and regional languages.] Gēyáo [Journal of Folk Songs] 32, 1–5.
Du, Wenlan (1992) Gǔ yáo yàn. [Ancient folk sayings.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
Editorial Committee of the Encyclopedia of China (1998) Zhōngguó wénxué juǎn. [Encyclopedia of China: literature volume.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó Dà Bǎikē Quánshū Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House.]
Fang, Jing (2007) Huīzhōu mínyáo. [Folk songs of Huizhou]. Héféi: Héféi Gōngyè Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Hefei: Hefei University of Technology Press.]
Gao, Fan (1992) Shíyòng ér gē jiàn shǎng dàquán. [Comprehensive guide to practical nursery rhyme appreciation.] Lánzhōu: Gānsù Shàonián Értóng Chūbǎn Shè. [Lanzhou: Gansu Children’s Publishing House.]
Guo, Maoqian (2003) Yuèfǔ shījí. [Anthology of Yuefu poetry.] Běijīng: Xīyuàn Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: Xiyuan Publishing House.]
Han, Fei (1989) Hán Fēi Zǐ. [Han Feizi.] Shàng Hǎi: Shàng Hǎi Gǔ Jí Chū Bǎn Shè. [Shanghai:Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Headland, I. T. (2017) Chinese mother goose rhymes. Xī’ān: Zhèjiāng Rénmín Měishù Chūbǎn Shè. [Xi’an: Zhejiang People’s Fine Arts Publishing House.]
Jin, Honglian (2022) Jīngjīnjí Míngē Jīn Yào. [Essentials of folk songs in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.] Qīnhuángdǎo: Yānshān Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Qinhuangdao: Yanshan University Press.]
Lie, Yukou (2018) Lièzǐ. [Liezi.] Běijīng: Zhōnghuá Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.]
Lin, Baoqing (1995) “Mǐnnán fāngyán zhōng de Gǔ Hàn Yǔ Huó Huà Shí jǔ yú”.[An Example of Ancient Chinese ‘living fossils’ in Minnan dialect.] Yǔwén yánjiū [Language and Literature Research] 4, 62–66.
Lin, Baoqing (2014) “Mǐn Nán Fāng Yán Shì Gǔ Hàn Yǔ De Huó Huà Shí”. [The Minnan dialect is a living fossil of ancient Chinese.]Mǐn Tái Wén Huà Yán Jiū [Minnan and Taiwan Cultural Studies] 3, 102–105.
Liu, Zutong (1932) Xiān Yóu Gē Yáo. [Xianyou folk songs.] Mín Jiān Yuè Kān [Folk Monthly.] 11, 157–158.
Lü Desheng (2003) Xiǎo’ér yǔ wài bā zhǒng. [Children’s language and eight other forms.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Book Company.]
Tian, Hongmei (2018) Shízuǐshān mínjiān gēyáo. [Folk Songs of Shizuishan] Yínchuān: Níngxià Rénmín Jiàoyù Chūbǎn shè. [Yinchuan: People Education Publishing House.]
Vitale, B. G. (2023) Pekiness rhymes. Xī’ān: Shǎnxī Shīfàn Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Xi’an: Shaanxi Normal University Publishing House.]
Wang, Chong (1990) Lùnhéng. [Lunheng.] Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎn Shè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Wang, Chang (2012) Gǔdiǎn shīcí qūmíngjù jiànshǎng. [Appreciation of famous lines in classical poetry and songs.] Tàiyuán: Shānxī Jīngjì Chūbǎn Shè. [Taiyuan: Shanxi Economic Publishing House.]
Wang, Yangming (2012) Chuánxí Lù. [Chuanxi Lu.] Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎn Shè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Wei, Zheng (1973) Suí shū. [Sui shu.] Zhōng Huá Shū Jú. [Zhonghua Book Company.]
Xue, li (1994) Zhōnghuá mínsú yuánliú jíchéng (yǐnshí juǎn). [Comprehensive compilation of Chinese folk customs: food volume.] Lánzhōu: Gānsù Rénmín Chūbǎn Shè. [Lanzhou: Gansu People’s Publishing House.]
Yu, Xiaoting and Fu, Jianming (2015) “Xiàoyuán tóngyáo yǔ xiǎoxué xiàoyuán shēnghuó déyù”. [Campus nursery rhymes and moral education in elementary school campus life.] Húnán Shīfàn Dàxué Jiàoyù Kēxué Xuébào. [Journal of Educational Science of Hunan Normal University],6, 53–57.
Zhang, Chunli and Li, Suying (2021) Yòu’éryuán chuántǒng wénhuà zhǔtí jiàoyù huódòng kèchéng. [Curriculum of traditional culture theme education activities for kindergartens.] Qīnhuángdǎo: Yānshān Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Qinhuangdao: Yanshan University Publishing House.]
Zhang, Jinping (2021) Zhōngguó fǎzhì tōngshǐ (dì 7 Juǎn). [Comprehensive history of the Chinese legal system,] Vol. 7. Běijīng: Zhōngguó Fǎzhì Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: China Legal Publishing House.]
Zhang, Mengqian (2012) Zài jiàoyù shìjiè de biānyuán: Zhōngguó chuántǒng tóngyáo yánjiū. [On the margins of the educational world: a study of traditional Chinese nursery rhymes.] Tàiyuán: Shānxī Jiàoyù Chūbǎn Shè. [Taiyuan: Shanxi Education Publishing House.]
Zhang, Shishan (2012) Chūn Jié: Yī Gè Mín Zú De Biǎo Qíng Yǔ Xīn Shì. [Spring festival: nations expressions and emotions.] Zhōng Huá Wén Huà Huà Bào [Chinese Culture Pictorial Journal.] 1, 114–117.
Zheng, Xudan (1929) Tiānlài jí. [Collection of heavenly sounds.] Běijīng: Zhōngyuán Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhongyuan Publishing House.]
Zheng, Yanting (2022). Pǔ Xiān tóng yáo jiào yù yùn yì yán jiū. [A study on the educational implications of Puxian nursery rhymes. Master thesis.] Fú Jiàn Shī Fàn Dà Xué. [Fujian Normal University.]
Zheng, Yiyi (2011) “Mínjiān tóngyáo chuánchéng de yòu’ér yìshù jiàoyù cuòshī”. [Strategies for early childhood artistic education in folk nursery rhyme heritage.] Wényì Zhēngmíng [Literature and Art Contention] 8, 171–173.
Zheng, Yueqin (2017) “Jīyú Ér tóng Wénxué Kāizhǎn Yòu’ér Yuán Yǔyán Jiàoyù huódòng”. [Developing language education activities in kindergarten based on children’s literature.] Xuéqián Jiàoyù Yánjiū [Early Childhood Education Research] 8, 70–72.
Zhou, Bingjun (2012) Shàngshū. [Shangshu.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
Zhou, Gongdan (2016) Yílǐ [Yili]. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎnshè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Zhou, Xiaofei (2017) Wáng zhìpǔ. Mínsú wénhuà yǔ Zhōngyīxué. [Folk Culture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó Zhōngyīyào Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: Chinese Traditional Medicine Publishing House.]
Zhu, Jiaxiong (1987) Yòu’ér jiātíng jiàoyù dàquán. [comprehensive guide to early childhood family education.] Běijīng: Zhōngguó Línyè Chūbǎn Shè. [Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House.]
Zhu, Xi (2023) Mèngqiú tóngméng xūzhī. [Mengqiu and essential knowledge for young learners.] Běijīng: Zhōnghuá Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.]
Zhu, Yizun (1993) Míng shī zōng 2. [Comprehensive collection of Ming Dynasty poetry,] Vol. 2. Shànghǎi: Shànghǎi Gǔjí Chūbǎn Shè. [Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.]
Zhu, Jiansong (2011) Wǔhàn mínjiān gēyáo. [Wuhan Folk Songs.] Wǔhàn: Huázhōng Shīfàn Dàxué Chūbǎn Shè. [Wuhan: Central China Normal University Publishing House.]
Zuo, Qiuming (1988) Zuǒ Zhuàn. [Zuo Zhuan.] Chángshā: Yuèlù Shūshè. [Changsha: Yuelu Publishing House.]
Zuo, Qiuming (2013) Guóyǔ. [Guoyu.] Běijīng: Zhōnghuá Shūjú. [Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.]
