Against the background of the Parry-Lord theories of oral poetics, Dr. Yen Pingchiu, a former student of the late Professor Albert B. Lord, discusses aspects of East Asian oral/written language covering proverbs, songs, epic narratives, and folk tales. His parallel analysis and comparative approach include selected texts from East Asian traditions¿those of China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet¿as well as Western traditions. An introductory chapter and epilogue tracing some U.S. public figures' 'patterns' of careers leading to their falls complete the study. This book contributes knowledge to our understanding of ideas in the shaping of East Asian proverbs/songs, and to our understanding of cultural/religious meanings of certain epic narratives/folk tales in a worldwide perspective.