Cultural Convergences and Divergences in Portuguese and Chinese short story traditions

This study examines images of society and family through traditional Portuguese and Chinese tales, following a journey through the history of literature in both countries and the characteristics of each. There are many differences between the two traditions, both in terms of how the texts are transmitted and how they are established or disseminated.

In order to understand the messages conveyed in these narratives, Portuguese and Chinese family nomenclatures and realities were also studied. With regard to the images relating to types of marriage, family and family relationships, the role and functions of each gender, and the hierarchy and power linked to age and gender in each country, some of them are completely unexpected and deny reality. Others, however, are not surprising at all, such as the secondary role assigned to women in both societies.

The study was published in the ‘Estudos e Documentos’ collection edited by CEPCEP.