The book ‘Chinese Folk Drawing; Spiritual Life of Old China in Folk Images’ was published by the 85th anniversary of the outstanding Russian Sinologist, Academician V. M. Alekseev; it was prepared by his daughter M. V. Ban’kovskaya and his disciples B. L. Riftin and M. L. Rudova. It contained articles and lectures by A., of various years, written and pronounced on the theme of Chinese folk prints and drawings, which had not been published at his life-time. A special place is taken with folk drawings/prints on religious topics. They are analyzed in the following articles: ‘The twins cult in China and the Indian influence’, ‘Demon-spellers in Chinese folk beliefs and images’, ‘Immortal twins and a Taoist with a gold toad in the light of ethnography (research in the field of Chinese folklore)’, ‘Caishen – the god of the money wealth, his images, cult and symbols of grace’, and ‘Religions and beliefs of Old China in folk images’. In the last one, there is a detailed characteristics of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and of peculiarities of perception and practice of these doctrines in the folk milieu, as well as an essay on the activity of Christian missionaries and its depicting in the so called anti-Christian prints, born from the rude arrogance of foreigners to local traditions and customs. The author noted a vast assortment of plots and an utilitarian symbolism of Chinese folk drawings, their deep connection with the common-day life, their inclusion into the everyday and festival ritual practice, as well as their functional diversity: from good wishes to magical protection.

Articles of the book laid down the foundation for studying Chinese drawings/prints as a new phenomenon; before A., nobody had interpreted them as a visual source for research in the field of the nature and functioning of the Chinese religious syncretism. On the author’s opinion, Chinese folk drawings/prints were the brightest and rarely met sample of that religious phenomenon.

The book is richly illustrated (105 ill.) with pictures from collections of the State Hermitage and the Museum of the History of Religion, collected by A. himself during his travel in the North China in 1907; there is also the vast bibliography, an index of Chinese names, concepts, and expressions. The most part of the illustrations are commented with the translation from Chinese made by M. L. Rudova – the original version of those comments was composed by educated Chinese consultants and teachers of A., on his request.