An Analysis of the Transmission Modes and Textual Composition of the Dongba Narrative Tradition
This article examines the Dongba narrative tradition of the Naxi people as a form of oral tradition, in which Dongba priests serve as the central performers and narrators, combining oral performance with oral and written texts. The tradition's transmission occurs through three modes—bloodline, village community, and spiritual/mind transmission—all fundamentally rooted in religious faith and dependent on the Dongba religion's belief system and lineage structure. As Dongba religious faith declines, the narrative tradition correspondingly weakens. Dongba narrative texts are transmitted through ongoing textual composition and adaptation, shaped by multiple factors including historical change, individual Dongba priests' proficiency, ritual procedures, and audience demands. The author highlights a dynamic, interconvertible relationship among oral texts, semi-oral texts, and tradition-oriented written texts, illustrated by examples such as the sky-worship recitation text and its corresponding scripture. The study aims to advance sustainable preservation of this UNESCO Memory of the World heritage.
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