The Legend of Ashima

Shilin Yi Ethnic Minority Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

For centuries the Yi people have lived in what is now Shilin Yi Autonomous County, 82 kilometers east ofKunming, capital of Yunnan Province. Their tribes include 27 kindred branches, of which the Sani is the largest, and the Sani folk epic, Ashima, known throughout China, has been translated into over 20 languages, including English, Russian and Japanese.

The Legend of Ashima tells a story of love. A clever and pretty girl Ashima and a young man Ahei love each other deeply. The village's leader has a son Azhi, who admires Ashima and claims her for himself. But Ashima stays strong in her love for Ahei, and rejects Azhi. Azhi proposes a singing contest with Ahei but he loses and has to set Ashima free. While the couple is enjoying their success by a river, Azhi uses his power to flood the river and drown Ashima. She later turns into a tall statue.

There are five words per verse, and a variety of skills are used such as foreshadowing, exaggeration, satire, and metaphor. The legend can be sung or recited on any occasion like weddings, funerals, and sacrifices. There are joyful tunes, tunes for the elders, sad tunes, crying tunes and scolding tunes.

After the founding of the People's Republic, this epic was adapted into a film that won top dance prize at the Spanish International Film Festival. Ashima, which means "girl as beautiful as gold," is the heroine of the epic. She epitomizes the finest qualities of the Yi people; diligence, kindness, honesty, and a love of life. Ashima has become a name synonymous with beautiful, gentle Yi girls. Ahei is the hero of the epic, and is strong, warm-hearted, kind, clever, honest, and brave. Young Yi women often refer to their sweethearts as "Brother Ahei."

With the transformation of lifestyle,education system, and the use of minority language, it is becoming more difficult for the epic to be passed down, and it is in danger of fading away.