Shandong University is one of earliest units with its teaching and research on folklore and Folk Literature in China, and it has a long tradition in teaching and research in various fields, such as folklore, folk literature, and mythology. Many previous well-known scholars in Shandong University had acquired outstanding Academic Achievements. Such as Gu Jiegang taught at Qilu University (the predecessor of Shandong University) in the 1930s; Wang Tongzhao collected the first folk stories book "Shandong Folk Stories" (1937) in Shandong area. Other researches is also remarkable, such as the studies of mythology by Wen Yiduo, Tong Shuye, Gao Heng, Ding Shan, Lu Kanru and Feng Ruanjun; the studies of folk religion by Ding Shan and Lu Yao; the studies of songs of Chu by Lu Kanru, Feng Ruanjun and You Guoen; the study of ballads by Tai Jingnong; the studies of ancient heritage and clothing by Shen Congwen; the studies of popular literature by Lu Kanru, Feng Ruanjun, Lao She, Guan De Dong, Che Xilun and Li Wanpeng. All those studies have formed a fine tradition in the researches of Folklore, Folk Literature, Popular Literature, Mythology, and Document Folklore.

Since 1978, on the background of the revival of higher education, Folklore and Folk Literature of Shandong University ushered in a new development opportunity. In November 1987, Shandong University Folklore Institute was established on the basis of Folklore Teaching and Research Section in the Department of Sociology, which was the only independent professional research organization. Prof. Xu Jingze and Ye Tao used to be the director successively. The present director is Prof. Zhang Shishan. In 2002, it was integrated into the Institute of Literature, History and Philosophy. In 1998, Shandong University became one of the first universities which obtained the master’s degree conferral right for folklore. The master’s program has six research directions: theoretical folklore, the history of Chinese folk, research of regional folklore, research of folk literature, artistic folklore and research of folk beliefs. In 2002, Shandong University obtained the doctor’s degree conferral right for Chinese folk literature. The doctoral program has six research directions: the theory of Chinese folk literature, the history of Chinese folk literature, folklore and folk narrative, mythology, oral poetics and artistic folklore. Folk literature master program has four research directions: the theory of Chinese folk literature, the history of Chinese folk literature, Chinese popular literature and mythology. The Institute is currently a postdoctoral unit, and the secretariat of Shandong Folklore Society is also located here. Zhang Shishan is the current Vice President and Secretary General of this society. In 2008, Folklore Institute became "The Key Research Base of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Shandong Province" , with Zhang Shishan and Li Hao as director and vice director respectively. In 2009, Folklore Institute became "The Chinese Festivals Culture Research Base of Ministry of Cullture", with Zhang Shishan and Liu Zongdi as director and vice director respectively.

In the past decade, Shandong University Folklore Institute is well-developed; especially the research of the field works of villages in North China and mythology has formed its own academic tradition. At present, there are 6 full-time researchers in this institute: 2 professors, also Doctoral Supervisors (Zhang Shishan, Liu Zongdi), 1 professor, also Master Instructor (Zhu Yiqing), 3 associate professors, also Master Instructors (Li Hao, Diao Tongju, Wang Jiahua). Among them, Zhang Shishan is selected in “the program for new century excellent talents in university, ministry of education, China”, “Qilu cultural outstanding talent” and “the middle and young aged academic backbone of the universities in Shandong Province”. They have 3 National Social Science Fund Projects, 4 National Social Science Fund Sub-projects and 3 Provincial Social Science Fund Projects. Otherwise, there are 1 part-time doctoral supervisor (Ye Tao), 3 co-doctoral supervisors (Liu Delong, Li Song and Qu Jinliang), 2 part-time Master Instructor (Liu Dezheng and Chen Guozhong).

Folklore Institute has two academic journals: “Folklore Studies” and “Festival Studies”, and a internal communications publication “Baimai Spring” (published 12) Edited by graduate students at school. Folklore Studies (Bimonthly) was started in October 1985, which is the only academic journal of folklore published in China. It is published in singular month and issued to nearly 50 countries or regions. The journal is one of CSSCI Original Periodicals and is also one of the core periodicals of Chinese humanistic social science. It practices the “Anonymous reviewers”. The editorial committee of Folklore Studies is made up of the domestic famous scholars. Editorial Director is Qi Tao, and Vice-directors are Fan Liming, Ye Tao and Fang Hui (managing editor). The present editor in chief is Zhang Shishan, the associate editor is Diao Tongju, and the director of editorial department is Wang Jiahua. Festival Studies is co-sponsored by the Development Centre of Folk Art, Ministry of Culture. Folklore Institute is responsible for editing and publishing. There is 2 issues per year, and the first issue was published in June 2010. The editors in chief are Li Song and Zhang Shishan, the associate editors are Zhang Gang and Zhu Yiqing, and the director of editorial department is Zhu Yiqing (part-time).