ABSTRACT
There is a close relationship between Chinese storytelling and Chinese Buddhism. After Buddhism was introduced into China, it was explained and publicized with the aid of folk-tales and the 'art of telling and singing' [shuochang yishu], and thus its influence on people continued to grow. The art of telling and singing was gradually influenced by Chinese Buddhism, both in its forms of expression, e.g. the speaking rhythm [shenglil], and in the content of the narratives fpinghua gushi neirong] . Chinese Buddhism was also influenced by the art of telling and singing. The mutual influence and mutual remoulding were considerable.
