Johann Gottfried Herder(1744-1803)is the creator of the concept of folksong and the pioneer of folksong research.But different from the nationalist view, Herder's concept of Volk encompasses multiple levels of human community, including tribal,local,and national.His so-called folksongs are not just national songs, but songs with spirits of a community.There is a mutually defining relationship between folksong and community, on the one hand,the natural quality of folksong reflects the ideal characteristics of Volk, on the other hand, folk- song is also an important way to shape and maintain the Volk community. Folksong in this sense has both national and local characteristics and universal humanity,reflects the collective spirit but the creator can also be an individual,and is influenced by tradition but requiring constant innovation.Herder's theory of folksong provides important enlightenments for us to reflect on the common confusion of related ideas.