关键词: 彝族, 房屋起源神话, 文化认同

Abstract: The Bimo Scriptures of the Yi shows the characteristic of Confucianism-Buddhism-Taoism trinity in the Chinese culture. Chapter “Elegy to the Deceased Elderly” of epic Elegy to Meige contains myths about origin of house of the Yi people, according to which the first house was built by Lady Dragon (supernatural power). The myth begins with a River-Snail-Maiden-type story, then goes on to criticize the ungrateful husband who lost the house. When the house was built for the second time, it was through the joint effort of legendary figures of both the Yi and the Han, among whom are some of the iconic heroes, founders in various domains and even deities in the traditional Chinese culture. In these myths, the house was first built by supernatural figures, such as Lady Dragon, before legendary figures of the Yi and the Han joint hands to take over the job. These myths about origin of house building are the result of introduction, adaptation and combination of elements of the traditional Chinese culture by the Yi bimos through cultural exchange and integration. Such cultural exchange and integration with the traditional Chinese culture are also found in the history of other minority ethnic groups and it is right on this foundation of cultural exchange and integration, or the foundation of cultural identification, that the awareness of commonwealth of all nations of China began to construct.

Key words: the Yi people, myth about origin of house, cultural identification