**Studies in Contemporary Literature**
This article proposes a "diachronic" developmental model for Naxi ethnic literature, arguing that although modest compared to the rich Han literary tradition, Naxi literature offers a distinctive lens onto the nationality's social life, spiritual character, and psychology. The author outlines an overall four-stage model: "self-generation—creative regeneration—pluralistic absorption—transformative expansion," likening literature to a living system with vitality and renewal. The essay focuses on the first stage, self-generation, tracing Naxi literature's origins to ancient Qiang ancestors who migrated southwest to the upper Dadu, Yalong, and Jinsha river regions around the 7th century CE or earlier. Using examples such as the creation myth "The Frog's Story" and folk songs about the origin of fire and hunting, the author contrasts primitive, unadorned oral forms with later, more literarily elaborate narratives, showing how myth, song, dance, and music jointly expressed early Naxi life before diverging into distinct artistic forms. The study aims to offer insights for understanding literary development among other ethnic minorities.
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