Reinstating Traditional Horsemanship of Ethnic Minorities in Southern China by Excavation, Sorting, and Comparative Research

Abstract

In August 1991, the book Chinese Nation’s Traditional Sports History was published, and it was hailed as the “masterpiece of Chinese folk sports” by academic circles. In this masterpiece, the traditional horsemanship of 23 ethnic minorities and that of 10 southern ethnic minorities represented by the Miao, Yi, Bai, Shui, Hani, Naxi, and other ethnic groups has been included. For the first time, this masterpiece integrates the traditional horsemanship of the ethnic minorities in Southern China in one volume. The disadvantage is that most of the included traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities only made a brief introduction to the time, place, and form of its development. However, under the global trend of the transition from traditional society to modern society and post-modern society, the traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities in Southern China is facing an increasingly serious crisis of inheritance and disconnection, resulting in a gradual extinction of related traditional cultural heritage. The characteristics are gradually lost because of it. Therefore, it is essential to return to the historical and cultural field of traditional horsemanship, conduct rescue excavation, sort out the traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities in Southern China, rescue the records of traditional horsemanship that is disappearing or undergoing drastic changes, as well as carry out comparative studies on this basis. This is not only an important way to inherit the traditional culture of ethnic minorities, but also means to protect the diversity of ethnic cultures and promote the development of exotic villages.