Abstract: During the Republican era (1912-1949), Bo Min Chang Ci Ji, a collection of folk lyrics of the Bo people compiled, translated and annotated by Yunnan linguist Zhang Jingqiu, served not only as a vivid record of Dai folk poetry but also as an ethnographic report on the life of the Dai in Menghai County. A close reading of the book reveals that Zhang’s methodology integrated linguistic rigor with multidisciplinary perspectives–incorporating folklore, literary studies, religious studies, and historiography–while contextualizing the materials within specific disciplinary frameworks, thereby illuminating their cultural significance in the matrix of multiple disciplines. As an ethnic folk literature text, this book documents historical instances of ethnic exchange, mutual learning and cultural integration, while embodying multidimensional social values: reflecting the consciousness of community for the Chinese nation and preserving multi-dimensional value in terms of both society and life. Examining the interdisciplinary vision, cultural connotations and social significance of this collection provides a window into the foundational period of China’s folkloric studies, rediscovering the academic historical relevance of song lyrics from borderland ethnic regions during this certain period.

Key words: Bo Min Chang Ci Ji, disciplinary significance, social value, academic historical significance