NARRATIVES AND RITUALS: THE INHERITANCE CONTEXT OF DAI EPICS

Abstract

The Dai ethnic group in China boasts a rich tradition of poetry and folk narratives, often closely intertwined with folk ritual activities. Behind these folk events, there are usually the associated explanatory text. This paper is based on field research data collected from 2008 to 2016, including interviews with the local people, tracking folk events, and understanding narrative texts. Three cases were selected from the data to elaborate on the relationship between rituals and narratives. The first case is wedding, the pickled fish jars in the betrothal ceremony could be explained in the narrative poem “A-Luang Basom” and the ritual of Crossing-the-Bridge during weddings simulates the typical scene of a hero's return and marriage as portrayed in the A-Luang story. The second case is funeral, where people often transcribe and recite the scripture “Ga Po” to express gratitude for the mother's childbirth. The third case involves the dedication of narratives “Ya Huanhao” or “Bu Huanhao” in Buddhist temples, narrating the story of the struggle between the rice sprite and the Buddha. The ritual of summoning “Ya Huanhao” or “Bu Huanhao” reflects deep respect for the rice sprite. Through these analyses, it becomes evident that folk narratives serve as interpretations of folk rituals. Different rituals, in turn, provide the context for the practice and transmission of narratives. Narratives and rituals complement each other, reflecting the Dai people's profound understanding of traditional poetry.

Acknowledgements: This paper is a phased research result of the strategic advantage discipline “Chinese Epic Studies” at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

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