Are there any Chinese folktales that are based on true events?

Question

Are there any Chinese folktales that have some details from real life? Post where you found them if you can.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Oh definitely! Some myths describe events of how different geological features came to be or even how the world began (I dont believe those though). Others describe battles and victories and the lives of famous people and rulers. There are many that talk of mythical creatures and heroes but I believe many of those are exaggerated! Goodluck with whatever it is you are studying!
ps. Why exactly are you asking this question? I'd love to know because I am a folk and fairy tale fanatic!

Answer 2

Err... I hope this is not inappropriate, but I goofed, because my hand got bumped when I was trying to rate discord43's answer, and I clicked just as the arrow rolled over the "thumbs-down" button, when I had intended to vote for the "thumbs-up". I feel really bad, and want to apologize to discord43 for this, please accept my apologies! I cannot find a way to change that vote now, so now it stays as "negative", and this distresses me. :( Unless anyone has an answer to how to fix my goof? (inserting red face HERE).

I just want to say, I agree wholeheartedly with discord43, all mythology is a mix of fact and fiction. It is mythology because the facts are elaborated on to create story, which informs the society of its norms, beliefs, taboos, and structure. The facts are included so that history can be remembered, but the culture's facts are also expanded to create a future as well.

I'm so sorry for the goof up. :(

Answer 3

All folktales, from any country, are very loosely based on actual events. They may be misintrepretations of things, or just plain seeing wrong, but folk tales are nearly always based on the so called actual experience of someone. That's why they are called folktales.

Answer 4

Chinese Mythology--ISBN 1-85152-926-8 published in Hong Kong.
Worth the trouble of tracking it down.