The Legend of Prince Golden Calf in China and Korea

Book excerpt: "This book examines the history of different versions of the legend of Prince Golden Calf and sheds light on important aspects of Chinese culture as manifested and interpreted in China and Korea. It highlights various cultural connotations of cows and how they hold a central place not only in Chinese agriculture but also in terms of China's ethnic composition, religious symbolism, landscape names, and other famous Chinese stories involving cows. The book also further position the story in a broader global framework. This study broadens the fields of translation of and research on East Asian religion, literature, and culture by expanding our knowledge in Asian studies, folklore studies, and the study of animal representations in literature. Its transcultural and transregional approach lays the foundation for a new, innovative, and inclusive perspective on the development of premodern East Asian literature and culture"--