**A Preliminary Discussion of the Dongba Literature of the Naxi People**
This article examines "Dongba literature" of the Naxi ethnic group by first clarifying related concepts: Dongba religion (a primitive polytheistic nature-worship faith lacking clergy hierarchy, temples, or unified doctrine, now nearly extinct); Dongba priests (mostly poor laboring men who performed rituals part-time, now almost gone); Dongba script (an ancient pictographic writing system of over 1,300 characters used only by priests); and Dongba scriptures (over 20,000 volumes covering astronomy, geography, history, medicine, religion, and daily life, functioning as an encyclopedia of ancient Naxi society). The author argues Dongba literature—myths, legends, and aphorisms embedded in these scriptures—constitutes a distinct category separate from oral folk literature and Han-script authored literature. The essay then traces the origins of Dongba script and literature, discussing legendary founder Dongba Shiluo (10th–11th century), the Muist chieftain genealogy, and related script "Geba," concluding that Dongba writing likely predates the 13th century, rooted in ancient Naxi migration history.
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