民间传说指的是口头传颂下来的对于历史事件和历史人物的记述和评价,也有对动物的一些传说,这些有的也许发生过,有的没有发生过,有的是通过幻想或艺术加工的..它们表达了古代人民的一些传统信仰,美好愿望等等
我国的<山海经>,<淮南子>等,保存和记录了很多古代神话传说,而这些传说后来也就成了人们家喻户晓的典故.
”八仙过海,各显神通”(the eight Fairies crossed the sea each displaying his own talent)这就是一个源于民间传说的典故.记述了八位仙人,在渡海的时候,各自显示出自己的本领,各个神通广大,这些从侧面反映出了古代劳动人民对于自然的渴望,还有驾驭自然的强烈愿望.与之相似的还有 “世外桃源(the Land of Peach Blossoms)”,

Folklore refers to the descriptions or remarks on historical events and figures passed on orally. There are also tales about animals. Some legends did took place, some did not, and still some others were conjured through imagination or put into shape artistically. They all express the traditional belief, good wishes etc. of our ancestors.

Many ancient myths were preserved and recorded in Chinese works such as <Shan Hai Jing> (Stories on Mountains and Seas), <Huainanzi> (Words by Duke of Huainan), etc. and later they became well-known allusions to the Chinese people.

For example, the tales of the Eight Fairies originated from the folklore. According to the legend, there were eight fairies who would like to cross the sea. Each displaying his own talent, every one of the fairies successfully crossed the sea. This story reflected the ancient working people's strong desire to understand and control Nature. Another famous legend was about the Land of Peach Blossoms.