Research on Yunnan Ethnic Folk Literature
This article by Zhang Junfang introduces the folk literature of the Naxi people of Yunnan, a diverse tradition encompassing myths, legends, tales, poetry, fables, fairy tales, proverbs, and riddles, expressed through varied sung forms (e.g., "changdadiao," "guqi," "amengda," "koxian diao"). The essay focuses on ancient mythic narrative poems preserved in the Dongba scriptures, the Naxi people's classical religious-literary corpus of 528 volumes used for ritual purposes but also invaluable for studying Naxi history, religion, customs, language, and literature. It analyzes representative works: "Origin of Ancestors" (a creation myth of human origin from an egg, reflecting primitive materialist thinking); "Baijiyuji" and "Gaoleq̀u" (depicting the Naxi's transition from nomadic pastoralism to settled agriculture); "Man and Dragon" and "Searching for Medicine" (heroic struggles against natural disasters and disease); and anti-war epics "Black-White War" and "Ha-Si War," which condemn unjust conflict and link its class origins to competition over wealth, celebrating labor and the triumph of good over evil. The piece culminates in praise of "Chuangshiji" (Genesis), the finest Naxi epic, depicting the hero Coq Ssee Leel-Ee's struggles and creative labor rebuilding the world.
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