The epic “Song of Gao Huang” as the core of the She people’s ethnic identity

The article analyzes the oral epic “Song of Gao-huang” in the context of the She people’s cultural uniqueness. These people live in southern and southeastern China and have shaped their distinct identity around a mountainous lifestyle largely independent from central authorities. The study pays special attention to the methods and contexts of performing this sacred epic text.
A comparison of various text versions reveals the core myth at its heart: a modified version of the ancient Panhu myth. To grasp the innovations that She folklore brought to this ancient myth, the author traces the evolution of the ancestor’s image – from a totemic ancestor to the culture hero Long-qi. The analysis shows that this image underwent significant influence from Han Chinese culture and Daoist mythology, losing some of its original traits as a result. While documenting such cultural borrowings from neighbouring peoples, the song also normalizes endogamy, calls for isolationism toward the Han, and urges all She clans to unite along lineage lines.
The epic Song vividly appears in the She people’s key traditions, historical narratives, and religious imagery. This helps its members clearly distinguish “us” from “them”. At the same time, it illustrates strategies of adaptation and preservation of uniqueness amid powerful assimilative pressures.

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