A Comparative Study on Culture between Okinawa and Yunnan

2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 10041028
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A).
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: 文化人類学(含民族学・民俗学)
• Research Institution: Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts
• Principal Investigator: KAJIKU Shinichi Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Faculty of Arts & crafts, Professor, 美術工芸学部, 教授 (10106586)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KUMADA Susumu Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Research Institute, Associate Professor, 附属研究所, 助教授 (30215024) ; YANAGI Yoshikuni Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Research Institute, Associate Professor, 附属研究所, 助教授 (70200532) ; HATERUMA Eikichi Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Research Institute, Professor, 附属研究所, 教授 (30189576) ; HOSHINO Hiroshi Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Director(Department of Performing Arts), 芸能部長(研究職) (30311161) ; AKAMINE Masanobu University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Law and letters, Professor, 法文学部, 教授 (40192893)
• Project Period (FY): 1998 – 2000
• Keywords: minorities in Yunnan Province / Okinawa / traditional (basic) culture / festivities / Hani languages / basic vocabulary / shamanism / traditional performing arts / ethnic music

Research Abstract

The three-year project continued from fiscal 1998 to 2000. Japanese team consisted of seven researchers, mainly from Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts. We joined hands with a Chinese team that had five researchers mainly from Yunnan University. Field researches and academic sessions took place as follows.
The fiscal 1998 saw two field researches in China (August, 1998 and March, 1999) and one in Okinawa (January, 1999), where the two teams convened an academic session. The fiscal 1999 saw two field researches in China (December, 1999 and March, 2000). The fiscal 2000 had two field researches in China (August, 2000 and March, 2001) and another in Okinawa (October, 2000), as well as an academic session in Okinawa.
The report "A Comparative Study on Culture between Okinawa and Yunnan" was published as an academic milestone of the three-year project. The authors have shown commitment to the project as specialists in the following fields : i. annual events ; ii. myths and folktales ; iii. local languages ; iv. ethnic music ; v. ethnic dance ; vi. kayou (songs) ; vii. dwelling ; viii. clothing, dyeing/weaving ; ix. eating habit ; x. household activities ; xi. communities ; xii. religion ; xiii. rites of passage. Although the report is still preliminary, it provides new knowledge and perspectives on the cultural differences and similarities between Okinawa, Japan and Yunnan. The Chinese researchers deserve special attention because of their new logical focuses on Okinawan culture.
The project deepened the levels of understanding towards the minorities and their cultures in Yunnan Province. This, consequently, led us to appreciate Okinawan culture more than before. These elements will be a great contribution to the progress of comparative culture studies in the future.