Folktales from South East Asia: A Synonym of Ethnographic Document

Abstract

Folktales are studied, recited, and reinvented ethnographic documents that offer a plethora of information, which supplies moral, cultural, global, and historical perspectives about life. These parables, widespread across the pallets of the Asian sub-continent are likened to tales and morals contained in every holy book and in an interesting way comment on life and its bitter and sweet moments. The customs, traditions and beliefs expressed in folktales link people to their history and root them in their past. Expanded and shaped by the tongues of tellers over time, and passed down from one generation to the next, folktales often reflect the values and customs of the culture from which they come.. This ancient form of narrative communication for both education and entertainment, offers a window into other cultures. The most assuring way of managing diversity in such a peaceful and sustainable dynamic is learning otherness through the folktales of others. The present paper is an attempt to explore the popular folktales from Southeast Asia as testimonials of an unadulterated ethnographic documentation.