中国民间美术是中国民间大众为了满足自身的社会生活需要而创造的视觉形象艺术，它融于民族群体的生产生活、衣食住行、人生礼仪和信仰禁忌等社会生活形态之中。它的文化内涵和艺术形态，蕴含着中华民族由原始社会到今天长达七八千年的历史文化的积淀，从自然崇拜、图腾崇拜、祖先崇拜的原始文化遗存直到近现代的商品经济文化，堪称民族历史文化的活化石和博物馆。

The creators of Chinese folk art come from the working class masses of China's rural areas. They are mostly female laborers. A communal art, folk art would engender all of Chinese literature and all later art. Its presence is evident in everyday food, clothing, shelter and transportation; in traditional festivals, ceremonies and rituals, and in beliefs and taboos. As a living example of cultural heritage, it shows the continuity of Chinese culture from primitive society to present, a culture that bears distinct national and geographical characteristics. With this heritage, Chinese culture boasts the longest history and the richest historical sources, and of all cultures, considers itself the most widely shared and the most geographically distinct. Its cultural implication and art form accumulate a historical culture of 7,000-8,000 years dating back to primitive society.

Introduction I

Six Characteristics of Chinese Folk Art

The Core of Chinese Folk Art II

 Life and Propagation--an All·time Theme

 Symbols of Visual Objects

 Toterns

Social Context 0f Chinese Folk Art

 The Social Context of Folk Arts

 Folk Arts and Festivities

 Folk Arts in Daily Life

 Folk Arts in Beliefs and Taboos

The Structure of Chinese Folk Art

 Philosophy Concept

 The Shaping Structure

 The Structure of Colors

Creators of Chinese Folk Art

 The Art of the Laborer Community

 The Art of Folk Artist Community

Various Chinese Folk Art Works

 Paper-cut

 Leather Silhouette

 Woodcut New Year Picture

 Masks and the Culture of Exorcism

 Kite

Appendix：Chronological Table of the Chinese Dynasties