自从“文化”一词产生以来,世界各地的文化学家,无一不把民俗看作是最重要和最基本的文化现象之一。然而,民俗究竟是一种什么样的文化?它与整个文化系统的关系如何?民俗学研究有着什么样的文化价值?这些有关民俗学基本理论的重要问题,还缺乏比较全面、深入的讨论。这里,笔者提出一些不成熟的意见,希望得到批评,并引起对这一问题的重视。 Since the term “culture” has emerged, cultural experts from all over the world have all along considered folklore as one of the most important and fundamental cultural phenomena. However, what kind of culture is it? What is the relationship between it and the whole culture system? What kind of cultural value is the study of folklore? What are the important issues concerning the basic theory of folklore? What is more, there is no comprehensive and in-depth discussion. Here, I put forward some immature opinions, I hope to be criticized, and cause for attention on this issue.