Zhongguo yanyu ziliao (; Collection of Chinese Proverbs or Collection of Chinese Sayings) is a reference work on proverbs compiled by the Folklore Group of the 1955 class of the Literature Department of the Lanzhou Art College (兰州艺术学院). The book was first published in 1961 by the Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House.In Chinese: Shanghai wenyi chubanshe 上海文艺出版社. The complete edition comprises three volumes. The work contains a large number of folk wisdom and proverbs or sayings (yanyu, ; “proverb; saying; adage; sawJohn DeFrancis: ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary (Wenlin)”) and represents an important reference source for the study of traditional Chinese folk culture.
The work is, for example, referenced by the Hanyu da zidian (HYDZD), although it is not listed in its bibliography.See f.e. HYDZD, p. 2589a (eight-volume edition), xiù 秀 (2) ("立秋十八日，寸草皆秀。" [Lìqiū shíbā rì, cùncǎo jiē xiù.] – In contrast, the selection of Chinese proverbs edited by Ji Chengjia 季成家 et al. titled Zhongguo yanyu xuan 中国谚语选 (Gansu renmin chubanshe 甘肃人民出版社, 1981) is listed (HYDZD, bibliography no. 2963).
Example 重賞之下,必有勇夫。Zhongguo yanyu ziliao 中国谚语资料. II. 1961. p. 84 [Zhòng shǎng zhī xià, bì yǒu yǒng fū.]
English translation:
With great rewards, there will be brave men.Compare T. C. Lai: Selected Chinese Sayings, 1961, p. 37: 重賞之下必有勇夫 chung shang chih hsia pi yu yung fu There are bound to be brave men who will come forth in response to an immense reward
See also Zhongguo yanyu xuan Chinese proverbs
References and notes
Bibliography Zhongguo yanyu ziliao 中国谚语资料 (3 vols.). Shanghai wenyi chubanshe 上海文艺出版社 1961 Hanyu da zidian. 1993 (one-volume edition) T. C. Lai: Selected Chinese Sayings. Published by University Book Store, Hong Kong, 1961