Song and Silence: Ethnic Revival on China's Southwest Borders

by Sara L.M. Davis

In the sunny, subtropical Sipsongpanna region, Tai Lues perform flirtatious, exoticized dances for an increasingly growing tourist trade. Endorsed by Chinese officials, who view the Tai Lues as a "model minority," these staged performances are part of a carefully sanctioned ethnic policy. However, behind the scenes and away from the eyes and ears of tourists and the Chinese government, a different kind of cultural resurgence is taking place.

In this vivid and beautifully told ethnography, Sara L. M. Davis reveals how Tai Lues are reviving and reinventing their culture in ways that contest the official state version. Carefully avoiding government repression, Tai Lues have rebuilt Buddhist temples and made them into vital centers for the Tai community to gather, discuss their future, and express discontent. Davis also describes the resurgence of the Tai language evident in a renewed interest in epic storytelling and traditional songs as well as the popularity of Tai pop music and computer publishing projects. Throughout her work, Davis weaves together the voices of monks, singers, and activists to examine issues of cultural authenticity, the status of ethnic minorities in China, and the growing cross-border contacts among Tai Lues in China, Thailand, Burma, and Laos.

Genres: China

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2005

About the author

Sara L.M. Davis (known as Meg) is an anthropologist and human rights advocate. She is senior researcher, Digital Health and Rights Project at the Graduate Institute’s Global Health Centre.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book on a learning adventure, but there is too much prejudice in it. Much of the book is written in the form of a research diary and travel report, including descriptions of places visited and interactions with local people. Through these interactions, travel, and learning of the minority language the author explores the ethnic revival of the Tai Lue People of Yunnan Province. Partly inspired by related ethnic groups in neighbouring countries, there is a revival and emergence of modern forms of music. The author also analyses state policies towards the culture of the ethnic minority and the development of the prefecture as a tropical tourist destination for Chinese tourists. Both function to integrate the prefecture and the minority into China.

Unfortunately, even in this central topic of the book, some of the hypotheses seem to be based on stereotypes rather than proper research. The statement that the message from the state to ethnic minorities is to either enrich themselves "through self-commodification, or express other kinds of ethnic identity and create trouble for yourself with the police" (p. 37) seems to conform to common Western perceptions of China. Such a bold suggestion should be supported, but it is not. In fact, it is contradicted. Later in the book the author describes expressions of "other kinds of ethnic identity", but police responses are lacking.

[Margaret Tufo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about border culture ambiguity in southwest China. Davis bought a lot of meaning and depth to Tai culture and piqued my interest in a region that I've never thought about before. Parts of the novel is a little boring for people that are not interested in lingustics or oral poetry (like me).

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched, but much more than an academic treatise, Song and Silence is an learning adventure among the ethnic minorities of Yunnan province in Southern China.

[Rebecca Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix of storytelling, descriptions of Sipsongpanna (where I used to live), and doctoral research on ethnic poetry.