Preserved Dongba culture on display in Paris
- By Wu Jin
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 16, 2015
The Paris University of Language and Culture (BULAC) recently hosted an exhibition of Dongba culture, a distinctive cultural heritage from the Naxi Ethnic Group that inhabits mountain villages in southwestern China.
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The Paris University of Language and Culture (BULAC) hosts an exhibition of Dongba culture, a distinctive cultural heritage from the Naxi Ethnic Group that inhabits mountain villages in southwestern China. [Photo/China.org.cn] |
The exhibition, consisting of photographs, manuscripts and videos concerning religious rituals and ending on Nov. 16, was held through the concerted efforts of BULAC, the Beijing Association of Dongba Culture and Arts (ADCA), the French University of the Far East (EFEO) and the Platform of Digitalized Construction of Dongba Cultural Heritage.
According to Zhang Xu, head of ADCA, a shared digital platform across the world allows experts of Dongba culture to view the ancient manuscripts preserved in French libraries and to send copies to the aging priests of the Naxi Minority so that the lost chapters of religious rituals can be revived.
A symposium held on Nov. 5 during the exhibition in Paris has enhanced communication among Chinese and French people who are enthusiastic for the preservation of Dongba culture. Two videos -- "The Return of Dongba Manuscripts" to display experts' efforts in searching for the lost manuscripts and "The War of Black and White," the epic story of the tribal war, were broadcast.
As there are only few priests left, all of whom are getting old, it has become a pressing task in the preservation of Dongba culture to ensure copies of the ancient manuscripts collected overseas, can be delivered to those capable of interpreting the pictography and hosting rituals.
The ADCA led by Zhang has been working with Beijing Information Science and Technology University, the Institute of Dongba Culture Research in Lijiang, Yunnan Province and Diqing Academy of Naxi Ethnic Group to make digital copies of the pictographic manuscripts preserved in foreign countries, including four French institutes.
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