Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on the revitalization of origin tales collected in Early Modern West Hunan society as regards Hmong identity. Case studies on on-going edition, exhibition and arguments over them are presented to demonstrate counter-curational practices of restructuring historical narratives.

Paper long abstract:

My research looks into the revitalisation of Hmong origin myths in West Hunan minority ethnic autonomous prefecture in China. Basing on two-year fieldwork and archival studies, recent editions, exhibitions and academic arguments of these folktale materials – mostly carried out by local scholars and local cultural institutions – are studied and discussed in this paper. I propose that the on-going active perception and interpretation of them comprise and emphasize counter-curational practices of restructuring historical narratives.

In particular, two case studies will be presented in this paper. One study focuses on how origin stories of the Heavenly Kings in West Hunan are edited in recent local and national publications, and how these narratives are put into exhibitions in local ethnography museum. I argue that these efforts are combined to challenge mainstream political propaganda by widening the ground of historical narratives. The second case study looks into the negotiations on interpreting these folktale materials by local and nation-wide scholars on cyberspace. Cross sword over the issue of Hmong identity reveals rationalization approaches adopted by different institutions and individuals out of various political and social concerns. Overall, revitalization of origin stories of the Heavenly Kings demonstrates the fluidity of minority ethnic identity, which combines the construction of linear history (military/political expansion and Sinicization) and the construction of mythic history (conveying principles and moral grounds). My case studies aim to demonstrate how counter-curational practices carried out by individuals and local cultural institutions seek to restructure historical narratives and to negotiate interpretations of minority ethnic cultures.