From Sacred To Secular

In this paper we will mainly study the relationship between Tibetan Opera and the secularization of the Shoton Festival.Our thesis is based on firsthand information which obtained from the fieldwork at 2009 Shoton Festival.Combine with the literary theory,we use the method of folklore and anthropology.Through researching into the secularization of the Shoton Festival,Tibetan Opera and the representative folk Tibetan Opera troupes,we have found that Tibetan Opera accelerates the advancement of the secularization of Shoton Festival. Moreover, the secularization of Shoton Festival also reacts on Tibetan Opera.This artical is composed of preface,conclusion and four chapters.The preface produces the central point of the thesis and summarizes the past research results,then presents the basis for choosing the location of field investigation and its culture niche.The four chapters of the main text are "Secularization" and the Shoton Festival,Tibetan Opera Performance in the Festival Context,the Relationship Between Tibetan Opera and the Secularization of the Shoton Festival,the Folk Tibetan Opera Troupes Under Secularization.Chapter one makes a definition for "secularization",then summarizes the history and present condition of the secularization of Shoton Festival.Chapter two analyses the status and the significance of Tibetan Opera performance in Shoton Festival,then points out that we put Tibetan Opera analyzation in the context of Shoton Festival.Chapter three explores the relationship between Tibetan Opera and the secularization of the Shoton Festival.In chapter four, through investigating the living condition of the two most representative folk Tibetan Opera troupes,we can see the advantages and disadvantages of the secularization clearly.The conclusion reviews the arguments stated above,and points out that our research is helpful to the protection and inheritance of the Shoton Festival and Tibetan Opera.