Abstract

Oral tradition is one form of passing on myths,legends,epic, folk songs,tales and literature from one generation to another and reveals the art of oral expression.For the spoken language is a typical form of displaying a kind of cultural activity in itself,particularly,it may reflect the mode of culture when attaching itself to a special kind of folk life.

This book,by summarizing the literature and conducting the field work and visual survey,systematically and comprehensively classifies both the contents and forms of the oral literature of Tu Nationality, and by putting the oral literature back into the corresponding real-life situation and viewing it as a lively practice,investigates the relationship between the oral literature and the folk life and the process of changes as well.

The book divides myriad oral folk practices of Tu Nationality passed on from different periods of Tu nationality's history into the three aspects of verse,prose and life wisdom and from the perspec－tive of anthropology makes a dynamic study of them,in particular, paying attention to the singers'social position and role in the practice.With regards the various functions of the oral traditions in folk life it gives serious thought to the coexistence of multi-religious beliefs,the changes of life style and the striking female cultural features in an attempt to explore the Tu people's psychological status and their composite cultural features through various oral practices.