Search Results (9)

Based on three years of sustained personal observations and extensive on-site interviews, this study is the first to investigate the bird totem worship customs of the Dong ethnic minority in southeast Guizhou, China. The Dong-inhabited regions of southeast Guizhou possess a long-standing tradition of bird totem worship, which has permeated every aspect of local people’s daily life, serving as a living museum where ancient bird totem worship continues to thrive in the present day. Through investigation and research, we can clearly perceive that bird totem worship here is no longer merely evidence of primitive thinking as previously discussed in academic circles, nor is it an endangered intangible cultural heritage. Instead, it represents emotional resonance with a more modern spirit and open-ended identity construction. Faced with the era of the internet and new media, they have broken free from the constraints of totem concepts and taboos, instead embracing creative totem will, totem activities, totem behaviors, and intelligent totems, thereby endowing totems with new belief content and forms of expression. They have transcended the preconceived concepts and fixed thinking about totems in academic discourse, making it an important vehicle for maintaining community relations, strengthening ethnic solidarity, inheriting ethnic culture, and continuing local civilization. Through the contemporary reconstruction of collective behavior, the traffic empowerment of internet short videos, and complex functional transformations, they have constructed a brand-new totem value system in the context of the internet and new media era, organizing a multi-dimensional, comprehensive social ecological view and civilizational value system. It is precisely through this continuous evolution, expansion, and activation in response to changing times that totems have acquired sustained vitality and creativity, providing a vivid case study for the contemporary transformation and creative development of ancient totemic beliefs. This is also the significant importance of field investigation—it enables us to gain entirely new value cognition and different theoretical perspectives from the living site of totem practices. Full article

The region today corresponding to modern Hunan province has been a site of stable language contact for over 2500 years, with the intensification of that contact occurring in particular between the 17th and 21st centuries. Major political developments during this time led to massive population movements which reshaped the demographics and linguistic ecology of Hunan. The region has considerable language and phylogenetic diversity, being home to three top-level groupings (Sino-Tibetan, Kra-Dai, and Hmong-Mien) and representing at least 17 different language varieties within a condensed area of around 211,800 km²; it is therefore the ideal setting to explore long-term language contact as mediated by degrees of relatedness. Structural diversity, in terms of morphological and phonological typology, is relatively low, owing to convergence over several thousand years. All language varieties in the province converge towards the MSEA typological profile; however, those that entered the region latest, such as varieties of Tujia, still retain features from outside the region (SOV, multisyllabic roots, etc.). In this paper the case is made that Hunan, with its geography, history of settlement, and contact between related and unrelated language families, represents a microcosm of linguistic contact situations which have taken place in other periods and regions of China. This is attributed to a combination of geographic and demographic patterns, historical patterns of settlement and ethnic conflict, and a complex sociolinguistic situation. Taken together, these lead to the formation of a unique linguistic niche where stable near-relative contact, distant-relative contact, and non-relative contact take place. The case is made that instances of near-relative contact between Xiang varieties and Mandarin (Standard and Southwestern) represent instances of koineization. This is evidenced by the formation of regional koines, such as Plastic Mandarin in Changsha, which present a degree of local prestige and show evidence of regional standard formation. Meanwhile distant- and non-relative contact between Southwestern/Standard Mandarin and Tujia and Waxiang, and Xiangxi Miao and Kam-Dong, respectively, are seen to result in extensive grammatical hybridization. Full article

Food fermentation is an ancient bioprocess characterized by complex biochemical transformations driven primarily by microbial communities. Across the diverse regions of China, various ethnic groups have developed a rich array of traditional fermented foods through long-term practical experience. These foods are integral to local culinary heritage and provide valuable systems for studying microbial ecology and function. From the perspective of microbial interactions, this review summarizes key concepts and major interaction types—including mutualism, commensalism, and competition—and describes how bacteria, yeasts, and molds interact via metabolic division of labor to drive substrate conversion, flavor formation, preservation, and biosynthesis of functional compounds. Focusing on four representative ethnic fermented foods—Dong fermented fish, Mongoslian milk curd, Miao sour soup, and Manchurian kombucha—we analyze how microbial interactions contribute to product quality, safety, and sensory attributes. Given current challenges in industrializing traditional fermented foods, such as poor standardization and variable quality, we propose future research directions centered on modern microbiome tools, designed microbial consortia, and process optimization. This work aims to provide a scientific foundation and practical strategies for modernization and quality improvement of traditional fermented foods. Full article

As a form of living cultural heritage, local residential landscapes manifest the essence of long-term, resilient human–land interactions. The Wuling Corridor, a vital ethnic and cultural passage connecting the Central Plains with Southwest China in Chinese history, serves as a crucial region for the mixed residence and cultural exchange of Tujia, Miao, Dong, Han, and other ethnic groups. Within this region, Ganlan stands as both the most representative vernacular architectural heritage and a residential form that is still extensively used, constituting a continuous and unique residential landscape. The spatial distribution patterns of Ganlan are the physical witness of the history of ethnic groups adapting to the complex topographic and cultural conditions. Current research focuses on the case description of single Ganlan forms, failing to systematically investigate the spatial formation mechanisms of Ganlan as a residential landscape from a geographical continuum perspective. Therefore, this study establishes a geographical database encompassing 9425 Ganlan samples from the Wuling Corridor. It integrates the geographic information system (GIS) with clustering algorithms to systematically identify the distribution patterns of Ganlan within specific geographic–cultural units and their coupling relationships with natural environments. It conducts quantitative analysis on the key driving factors concerning the emergence and evolution of Ganlan in the study area; the findings reveal the following: (1) Ganlan buildings exhibit a spatially aggregated distribution pattern along major water systems, demonstrating characteristics of multi-ethnic sharing and spatial interweaving. (2) Their distribution is constrained by natural geographical factors and influenced by the transmission pathways of construction techniques during ancient ethnic migrations to the southwest China. (3) Within multi-ethnic settlement structures, inter-ethnic cultural interactions (particularly with Central Plains culture) serve as a key driving force for the typological evolution of Ganlan. (4) The evolutionary lineage of “full-Ganlan,” “semi-Ganlan,” and “courtyard-style Ganlan” systematically demonstrates the dynamic adaptive capacity of local residential systems. Additionally, by integrating massive Ganlan heritage data with multiple spatial analysis methods, the study serves as a typical case study illuminating the adaptive strategies and resilience mechanisms of Ganlan as a local residential landscape formed in response to the environmental conditions and social changes. Also, it provides a scientific basis for the holistic conservation of architectural heritages shared by multiple ethnic groups and the integrated development of local cultural tourism industries. Full article

It is significant to study the correlation between the spatial distribution and topographic features for ethnic minority rural settlements, which can provide the theoretical basis and practical methods for the preservation of ethnic culture and scientific planning of territorial space. Liuzhou in Guangxi is a region with diverse ethnic groups and this paper takes Liuzhou as the case study. This study employs fractal theory, GIS spatial analysis, and correlation analysis methods to investigate the relationship between settlement spatial patterns and their surrounding geographical conditions. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between the geographic location of ethnic minority rural settlements (including site selection and terrain features) and their geographical conditions (topographic and elevation factors). Additionally, significant associations exist between settlement slope, settlement orientation, and their positioning within mountainous terrain. The study also reveals strong correlations between planar morphological characteristics (or settlement scale) and settlement terrain for the settlements of the same ethnic group within the same region. Specifically, Dong settlements exhibit remarkable consistency in settlement scale, while Miao settlements demonstrate high similarity in terms of elevation distribution. The methodology developed in this study is applicable to correlation research on settlement characteristics across diverse ethnic groups and geographical regions. It not only reveals universal patterns of how physical-geographic environments influence the planar and spatial features of settlements, but also validates the logical coherence of investigating layout characteristics from both planar and spatial perspectives. The findings of this study not only provide practical guidance for the development and planning of settlements, but also offer recommendations for the cultural inheritance and settlement protection of ethnic minorities. Full article

This study suggests a pioneering conservation framework that significantly enhances the preservation, renovation, and restoration of heritage architecture through the integration of contemporary digital technologies. Focusing on the endangered drum towers of the Dong ethnic group in Southwestern China, the research employs a meticulous data collection process that combines manual measurements with precise 2D imaging and oblique unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photography, enabling comprehensive documentation of tower interiors and exteriors. Collaboration with local experts in drum tower construction not only enriches the data gathered but also provides profound insights into the architectural nuances of these structures. An accurate building information modeling (BIM) simulation illuminates the internal engineering details, deepening the understanding of their complex design. Furthermore, UAV-obtained point cloud data facilitate a 3D reconstruction of the tower’s exterior. This innovative approach to heritage preservation not only advances the documentation and comprehension of heritage structures but also presents a scalable, replicable model for cultural conservation globally, paving the way for future research in the field. Full article

This study breaks away from traditional macroeconomic-data-based research that often overlooks the subjective experiences of communities and social groups in assessing their resilience to external stressors. Instead, we conducted a nuanced analysis of self-assessments provided by 364 household heads in the Nam Dong District, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, to gain a comprehensive understanding of household resilience. Our investigation focused on two upland communities—the Kinh majority and Co Tu ethnic minority households—evaluating their resilience levels in terms of the five livelihood capitals and identifying significant disparities among different ethnic and gender groups. Our findings reveal notable differences in livelihood resilience to climate change and variability among these groups, particularly for women, the poor, and ethnic minorities who exhibit lower resilience levels. This underscores the need for policies and programs designed to improve resilience capacity while taking into account these groups’ cultural and social norms. We suggest focusing on improving financial, human, and social capitals to increase households’ resilience to external shocks. Specifically, building resilience for disadvantaged groups must go hand in hand with promoting their overall well-being and alleviating poverty. Additionally, we recommend tailored training programs to raise awareness among households and strengthening institutional systems to enhance overall resilience. Full article

Traditional villages are essential carriers of traditional culture and ethnic culture. Hence, it is of great significance to study and protect them in the context of urban–rural integration. From the perspective of the “Space Gene”, this study proposes the identification and extraction of the space gene. Then, we examine six traditional Dong villages in the Pingtan River Basin selected as cases to quantify their space gene diversity. The results show that (i) traditional Dong villages are rich and diverse in terms of their space types. (ii) The important value of the public space reflects the social cohesion of the Dong people. (iii) However, the sample villages still have differences in their space gene diversity index values. (iv) The characteristic culture encapsulated by the spaces of traditional Dong villages is facing disappearance. Furthermore, we propose a conservation strategy for traditional villages. Through the space gene diversity index, we can examine the current state of the protection and development of the village. The main objective of this study was to deepen our interpretation of the space in order to study the cultural value behind it. Full article

The Lanna region, the main part of northern Thailand, is a place of ethnic diversity. In this study, we investigated phak-gard-dong (PGD), or pickled mustard green (Brassica juncea L. Czern.), for its beneficial bacteria content and to analyse the variations in bacterial compositions among the PGD of three different ethnolinguistic groups, the Karen, Lawa, and Shan. DNA was extracted from the PGD pickled brine, and 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was performed. Metagenomic data were analysed and the results demonstrated that the dominant bacterial species were Weissella (54.2%, 65.0%, and 10.0%) and Lactobacillus (17.5%, 5.6%, and 79.1%) in the PGD of the Karen, Lawa, and Shan, respectively. Pediococcus was found only in the PGD of the Karen and Shan. Bacterial communities in PGD of the Lawa were distinctive from the other ethnic groups, both in the alpha and beta diversity, as well as the predicted functions of the bacterial communities. In addition, overall network analysis results were correlated to bacterial proportions in every ethnic PGD. We suggest that all ethnic PGDs have the potential to be a good source of beneficial bacteria, warranting its conservation and further development into health food products. Full article