Drum Tower of Dong Village in Guizhou Province: Cultural and Negotiating Identities of an Ethnic Group in the Minority Development Process of China

Abstract

The research topic: Drum Tower of Dong Village in Guizhou Province: Cultural and Negotiating Identities of an Ethnic Group in the Minority Development Process of China. Drum Tower is the text of this study.Two concepts were adopted in this study: cultural identity and negotiating identity .This research used qualitative research methods and adopted two methods of information collection: field work and literature research.There are four research objectives in this research: First, to study the historical and socio-cultural development of Dong village (ethnic group) in Guizhou province. Second, to study the Drum Tower of Dong village in the aspect of cultural identity of a minority group. Third, to study the Drum Tower of Dong village in the aspect of negotiating Identities of Dong people in the process of commoditization. Finally, to study the unit of analysis case of Dong New year at Zhaoxing village.

The Dong nationality is a minority in China. Its long history and special natural environment have created a unique society and culture. The Drum Towers of the Dong people are of different sizes and shapes, which are fascinating. Zhaoxing Dong Village has a total of five drum towers, which are unique and attractive. At the same time, the history and social culture of the Dong people provide a strong background for the development of the Drum Tower. The development of the Drum Tower keeps changing with the development of the Dong nationality. From small to large, from simple to exquisite, it has gradually become an excellent representative of the Dong nationality. Certainly,The Drum Tower is closely related to the life and society of the Dong people. It is not only reflected in the decoration of Drum Tower (material level), but also in the customs of the Dong people (spiritual level), such as naming children and singing Dong songs. In the process of getting along with the Drum Tower for a long time, the Dong people have formed a close and firm cultural identity with the Drum Tower.Recently Drum Tower has become a popular tourist site, with tourism on the rise. Tourists from all over the world come to the Dong Villages to tour and take pictures at the Drum Towers. This same Drum Tower's cultural heritage steadily has become an asset, and extensive identification agreements with outsiders (non-indigenous people) were held. The New Year of the Dong nationality is the most characteristic festival. All Dong people will be dispatched, singing and dancing, holding various activities, and attracting many Chinese and foreign tourists to visit and play. During this period, the Drum Tower played a key role. Also, the Dong New Year has become a venue for performances, and the Dong people and tourists have effectively negotiated the identity of the Drum Tower, thus establishing a satisfactory negotiating identity of the Drum Tower and improving the reputation of the Drum Tower.

In the past research on the Drum Tower, the main content was about the decorative arts, architectural skills, and aesthetic aspects of the Drum Tower. However, this study has made new knowledge discoveries:The Drum Tower originated from the Dong nationality with a long history and unique social culture.Under the background of China's reform and opening up, the decoration and shape of the Drum Tower have undergone great changes. This is Drum Tower conforms to the development of The Times and constantly changes with the changes of Dong and countries (China).The Drum Tower has become a beautiful business card forthe Dong people to show to the outside world and a link with the government. Cultural identity is an essential foundation and guarantee for a nation's existence and development. Through my fieldwork, this research innovatively proposes, The cultural identity of Drum Tower is a complex system,it is also reflected in the Dong handicrafts, such as embroidery , paintings, etc., and reflected in the language, songs and other aspects of the Dong nationality. At the same time, the cultural identity of Drum Tower is also a long and constantly changing process.This study proposes that the creation of the Drum Tower is an unconscious and conscious invention, and it is also the product of the Dong people's solution to their normal life needs (for example, warming each other and discussing things). It is also mentioned that the important figures of the Dong nationality have a role in promoting the cultural identity of the Drum Tower, that is, the great man effect. Forthermore,the content of the negotiation of the identity of the Drum Tower by the Dong people has been supplemented. First, it is a process from unfamiliar to skilled (this process develops and changes with the process of tourism development of Dong villages); second, it is a multi- Hierarchical: The basic level (the most direct level) is the negotiation between the villagers and tourists on the identity of the Drum Tower; the second level is the negotiation between the local government and other places on the identity of the Drum Tower; the higher level is the identity of the Drum Tower between the Dong nationality and non-Dong people negotiation. Under the promotion of China's reform and opening up, western development, rural revitalization and other policies, the Dong people have combined their own characteristic resources through the Drum Tower and vigorously developed the tourism industry in accordance with the contemporary social trend, which has injected new vitality into the identity of the Drum Tower , enhanced the status of the Dong nationality in China, and expanded the influence of the Dong nationality in the world.Moreover,the Dong New Year is the most solemn legal festival of the Dong nationality. This research innovatively proposes that the Drum Tower is the key scene to show the Dong culture. A series of activities carried out in Zhaoxing Village during the Dong year revolved around the Drum Tower (either in the Drum Tower or around the Drum Tower). At this time, the behavior in the key scene of the Drum Tower fully reflects the central position and core value of the Drum Tower in the activities,reflecting the value orientation and social relationship of the Dong culture.

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