Chapter Ⅰ
Folk Performing Art's Place in Chinese Culture
Section ⅠFolk Performing Art Genius
Section Ⅱ The Popularization of Entertainment
Section Ⅲ Representatives of the Common People

Chapter Ⅱ
Artistic Traditions in Chinese Folk Performing Art
Section Ⅰ Xia Li Ba Ren
Section Ⅱ Comedy and Humor
Section Ⅲ Seize the Moment

Chapter Ⅲ
Performance Techniques
Section Ⅰ The Art of Expression
Section Ⅱ Entry and Exit
Section Ⅲ Performance and Appreciation

Chapter Ⅳ
The Art of Storytelling
Section Ⅰ The Origin of the Storytelling
Section Ⅱ The Spirit， Form and Language of Storytelling
Section Ⅲ Improving Storytelling： Liu Jingting （1587—1670）
Section Ⅳ Continuing the Storytelling Tradition

Chapter Ⅴ
Tanci and Guqu
Section Ⅰ The Artistic Charm of Tanci
Section Ⅱ Continuing the Art of Tanci
Section Ⅲ The Artistic Charm of Guqu
Section Ⅳ Continuing the Art of Guqu

Chapter Ⅵ
Cross Talk
Section Ⅰ Performance Skills
Section Ⅱ Cross Talk's Performance Characteristics
Section Ⅲ The Great Master of Cross Talk： Hou Baolin
Section Ⅳ Continuing the Tradition of Cross Talk

Author's Note
A Brief Chronology of Chinese History