In this Book

summary

The Nuosu people, who were once overlords of vast tracts of farmland and forest in the uplands of southern Sichuan and neighboring provinces, are the largest division of the Yi ethnic group in southwest China. Their creation epic plots the origins of the cosmos, the sky and earth, and the living beings of land and water. This translation is a rare example in English of Indigenous ethnic literature from China.

Transmitted in oral and written forms for centuries among the Nuosu, The Book of Origins is performed by bimo priests and other tradition-bearers. Poetic in form, the narrative provides insights into how a clan- and caste-based society organizes itself, dictates ethics, relates to other ethnic groups, and adapts to a harsh environment. A comprehensive introduction to the translation describes the land and people, summarizes the work’s themes, and discusses the significance of The Book of Origins for the understanding of folk epics, ethnoecology, and ethnic relations.

Table of Contents

Download PDF Download Full Book Download EPUB Download Full EPUB
  1. Cover
  2. open access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Series Page
  2. pp. i-ii
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page
  2. p. iii
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Copyright
  2. p. iv
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. v-vi
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Foreword
  2. Stevan Harrell
  3. pp. vii-x
  4. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Preface
  2. pp. xi-xviii
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Pronunciation Guide and Conventions
  2. pp. xix-xx
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Map of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
  2. p. xxi
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Introduction
  2. pp. xxiii-xcv
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 1. Genealogy of Sky / Momu cy
  2. p. 3
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 2. Genealogy of Earth / Mudde cy
  2. p. 4
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 3. Transformation of Sky and Earth / Momu zzyqo cy
  2. pp. 5-6
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 4. Genealogy of Lightning / Murzyr cy
  2. pp. 7-8
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 5. Separation of Sky and Earth / Muvu mudie po
  2. pp. 9-14
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 6. Great Bimo / Awo Shubu
  2. pp. 15-17
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 7. Genealogy of Spirit Monkey / Anyu Ddussy cy
  2. pp. 18-20
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 8. Zhyge Alu / Zhyge Alu
  2. pp. 21-25
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 9. Shooting Down Suns and Moons / Gge nbie hle nbie
  2. pp. 26-28
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 10. Calling Out Single Sun and Single Moon / Gge di hle di gu
  2. pp. 29-30
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 11. Twelve Branches of Snow / Vonre sse cinyi
  2. pp. 31-39
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 12. Genealogy of Shyly Wote / Shyly Wote ssy
  2. pp. 40-61
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 13. Ozzu (Tibetan) Lineages / Ozzu cy
  2. p. 62
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 14. Ozzu (Tibetan) Migrations / Ozzu muche
  2. p. 63
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 15. Hxiemga (Han) People’s Lineage / Hxiemga cy
  2. p. 64
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 16. Hxiemga (Han) People’s Migrations / Hxiemga muche
  2. pp. 65-66
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 17. Foreigners’ Lineage / Yiery cy
  2. p. 67
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 18. Migrations of Foreigners / Yiery muche
  2. p. 68
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 19. Nuosu Lineages / Nuosu cy
  2. pp. 69-70
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 20. Emperor Vomu and Ni and Vi Genealogies / Vomu Ni Vi cy
  2. pp. 71-73
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 21. Genealogy of Ahuo / Ahuo cy
  2. p. 74
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 22. Migration of Ahuo / Ahuo muche
  2. p. 75
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 23. Genealogy of Nzy Clan / Nzyzzur pu
  2. pp. 76-85
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 24. Highpoints of Migrations of Gguho / Gguho cy bo
  2. pp. 86-87
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 25. Migrations of Qonie / Qonie cy bo
  2. pp. 88-89
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 26. Changes in Hxuo Villages / Hxuoqo hxeqo
  2. pp. 90-94
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 27. Genealogy of Gguho / Gguho cy
  2. pp. 95-97
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 28. Migrations of Nine Sons of Gguho Durzhy Ddiwo / Kurdie Gguho Durzhy Ddiwo sse ggu cy
  2. pp. 98-113
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 29. Genealogy of Qoni / Qoni cy
  2. pp. 114-125
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Appendix: The Book of Origins Contents with Tone Indicators
  2. pp. 127-128
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Glossary
  2. pp. 129-130
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Notes
  2. pp. 131-149
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. References
  2. pp. 151-157
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 159-173
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Series List
  2. pp. 175-176
  3. open access
    • View HTML View
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.