An Eco-anothropological Perspective On Dai People's Rice Culture Change In Jinglai Villatge,Daluo,Menghai

Rice cultivation has long been the main livelihood in Dai society,breeding its unique rice culture.Yet,with the decreasing importance of rice cultivation as a livelihood,to inherit and develop rice culture can be problematic.With an eco-anthropological approach.this study investigated the impact of shifting livelihood on rice culture in Jinglai village,Xishuangbanna prefecture.Data were collected via in-depth interviews and participant observations out of 3 months of ethnographic fieldwork.The thesis is comprised of three main parts,namely introduction,finding and conclusion.The introduction part mainly introduces research background,question.methodology and related literature.The second part consists of four chapters:The first chapter gives a detailed introduction about Jinglai village,including its natural and cultural geography,and livelihood changes;The second chapter is about the diverse use of rice and its cultural function in Dai society;The third chapter explores the change of rice usage in life rituals,festivals and religious sacrifice,and illustrates the symbolism of rice in Dai rituals;The fourth chapter investigates the evolution of rice culture,showing the changes in source of rice and rice use pattern,a less amount of rice used in rituals,and a weaker belief in guhun(rice spirit),which is directly attributed to the declining rice cultivation.The conclusion part presents a summary of the main arguments of the study.While the declining rice cultivation has a direct impact on the evolution of rice culture,the deep reason is that market,policy shift,and economic benefit have motivated Dai people to give up traditional agricultural livelihood,which then results in changes in traditional lifestyle as well as cultural value.Cultural change is normal,what's important is a combination of local ethnic knowledge and economic development.Yet it must be noted is that the replacement of rice cultivation by cash crops plantation(e.g.,banana,rubber)has had a negative impact on soil and water.The current study calls for more attention to the inheritance of local ethnic eco-knowledge,ecological environmental protection and ethnic culture in ethnic minority regions where economic development is underway.