The Study Of "Dragon" Motif In Yunnan Minority Folk Literature

Myths, legends and stories are integral parts of Chinese folk literature system. In Yunnan minority folk literature, there are various dragon myths, legends and stories concerning the relationships either among dragons or between dragons and the multitudes, whose contents and plots are very colorful, manifesting the profound cultural connotation. These types of folk literature exert considerable influence on the life and work of the minority, playing a positive role in passing down the national culture heritage and achieving the national identity. Apart from the myths, legends and stories in folk literature, there are also quantities of holidays, ceremonies and etiquette that concerns dragons. Dragons demonstrate the unique function and significance in the life and work of the minority groups.This thesis attempts to classify and analyze works concerning dragons (mainly myths, legends and stories) from Yunnan minority folk literature. The thesis is divided into seven parts. The first part is the introduction. The second part is the overview of the works concerning dragons in Yunnan minority folk literature, in which the literature works are divided into different types according to the roles that the dragons play. The third part is about the plot of dragon motif in Yunnan minority folk literature, which can be divided into both typical types of motif and their sub-types. These motifs and types, which are very popular with the minority, are highly representative of that literature. The fourth part is the features of the works concerning dragons in Yunnan minority folk literature. Due to the uniqueness of the minority groups and multi-cultures emerged in certain philosophical situations, Yunnan minority folk literature possesses its own traits. The fifth part is the background information about how the dragon motif comes into being in Yunnan minority folk literature. It is the migration and communication, the influence of the mainland culture, and the penetration of foreign cultures that altogether contribute to the unique myths, legends and stories about dragons Yunnan minority folk literature. The sixth part elaborates the values of the works in Yunnan minority folk literature. In the last part it can be concluded that from this study the unique minority culture and the background information are revealed and the great influence that the folk literature brings to the minority becomes obvious.