The Study About Panhu’s Image In Folk Narrative Of Miao Nationality In Xiangxi

Panhu myth is widely spread in a series of Panhu ethnic groups on the origin ofnation and ancestry. So far, mythology, legend and story about Panhu still widelycirculated in the folk society of Miao, Yao and She nationality. But also there aresacrificial rites of Panhu. Because such myths are very old, but in ancient times they hadbeen widely spread and had profound influence at the time, therefore, Panhu myth isrecorded in many famous ancient documents such as Annotation of Literature andCustoms, Anecdotes about Spirits and Immortal, Book of Later Han Dynasty. Through aseries of myths, we can trace back to the trace of history on Panhu worship among Miao,Yao and She nationality and explore the development of history on these nationalities,so it has higher cultural, historical and aesthetic value for these nations even to thewhole Chinese nation.The study of Panhu mythology is a complicated, huge cultural project. Here, thispaper takes Panhu’s image in folk narrative of Xiangxi as the object of study.To begin with, we make a detailed combing and analysis of Panhu’s images whichremain in ancient documents and folk myths and legends among Miao, Yao and Shenationality. We think Panhu’s image as an image of dog totem was stored in the Classicof Mountains and Seas which was date back to the Warring States period. The ancientdocuments and folk myths legendry has been lasting the nature of totem image sinceHan and Wei Dynasties. Nevertheless, there are some differences about Panhu’ image indifferent nationalities’ folk myths and legends.Secondly, in the second chapter, we will study Panhu’s image in folk narrative ofXiangxi. In folk myths and legends of Xiangxi, there are some difference on theproperties of Panhu’ image, some of the myths insist that Panhu’ image is a image ofdogs totem, but also some which formed in recent years deny the character of dogstotem image and regard the dog as dragon dog or deiform dog especially tend toemphasize the characters of dragon and spirit. Of course, we will focus on analysis ofthe qualities of Panhu’s image. We believe that in the Panhu’s image there containsnational characters of Miao nationality today that is bravery and wisdom, goodness andaltruism, loyalty and persistence. It is such characters that Panhu’s image still gains thegood inheritance through thousands of years with the changing of the historical season.Finally, we also explore the changes about Panhu’s image and the whys in themodern society. We believe that in spite of the vicissitudes of history, Panhu’s image gradually integrates some modern culture; its inherent spirit has always inspired thepeople who inherit Panhu myths and legends.