Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2008700350
Collection materials in English, Lü, and Chinese languages.
This ethnographic collection is based on the original field work that anthropologist Sara L. M. Davis conducted in Sipsongpanna (Xishuangbanna in Chinese), Yunnan Province, China, and in Kengtung, Shang State, Burma [Myanmar], between 1997 and 2003. The multi-format materials in this collection document Tai Lüe religious rituals, epic oral narratives, popular songs and performances for tourists, as well as interviews with oral poets and popular singers. They consist of her field notes, audio and video recordings, graphic images in the form of photographs and slides, and books published in Yunnan. This research formed the basis of Davis’s book,
The political challenges of being in a border region of China were immediately evident, and Davis found that many people were initially reluctant to speak openly with her. Instead, she encountered government-sanctioned performances that were marketed primarily to tourists and did not reflect the traditions she had come to document. Davis's field notes offer considerable detail about her experiences staying in monasteries, attending local festivals, and making connections with people in the area. Her search for oral storytellers revealed a growing underground ethnic revival movement. The efforts of young Tai Lüe monks and activists were helping to fuel a resurgence of Tai Lüe Buddhism and an increasing interest in their language and cultural traditions.
The manuscript portion of the collection includes photocopies of Davis's field notes from September 1997 through July 1998; photo, audio, and video logs; song texts in Tai Lüe with some transcriptions into English; articles by Ai No; concert posters (1998); a 2001 calendar, and Davis's book,
The sound recordings consist of 68 audiocassette tapes, 2 microcassettes, and 2 CDs.
They document Tai Lüe religious rituals, epic oral narratives, popular songs, local
festivals, and performances for tourists, as well as conference proceedings and
interviews with oral poets and popular singers. The majority of the materials are in Tai
Lüe, although some are in Chinese and some are in English. Thirty-one of these are
Davis's field recordings, two are field recordings by other people, thirty-four are
commercially produced, and seven of them are from what is known as the "grey market,"
tapes that had been previously recorded and were purchased at local markets, but they
were not necessarily professionally produced. These recordings include those that were
purchased at a stall in the Meng Hun Sunday morning market; those that were purchased at
the Tai New Year festivities; and Tai language popular music from Burma, mostly 1970s
era; and
The moving images are comprised of 12 videocassettes of various sizes and 9 VCDs ["Video Compact Disks" containing moving pictures and sound]. The majority of the videocassettes are Davis's recordings of religious rituals, festivals, and a tourist dance show. There are 8 commercial recordings, and 2 tapes of Davis being interviewed by the staff of the American Folklife Center in 2005. The artifacts in the collection are a bamboo flute with metal reed, woven Tai Lüe cloth, and a bundle of handmade wax candles.
The original notes and headings used by Sara Davis have been transcribed in the finding aid. Researchers should be aware that this finding aid uses both of the English transliteration forms for the region in which Davis conducted her research - Sipsongpanna, the Tai Lüe transliteration into English; and Xishuangbanna, the Chinese transliteration into English. The Library of Congress authority heading is Xishuangbanna, but Davis uses both forms of the transliteration in her field notes and on her folder headings. In her published book,
Similarly,
Sara M. L. Davis earned her Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in East Asian
Studies and in Folklore and Folklife. She conducted field research in Xishuangbanna,
China in 1997-1998, and has returned several times since then. She has been affiliated
with Yale University and University of California, Los Angeles, where she was a visiting
scholar, and she was formerly a researcher for Human Rights Watch on China. Davis has
contributed to publications including
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The collection has been arranged by format into the following series: Manuscripts, Graphic Images, Sound Recordings, Moving Images, and Artifacts. Davis kept a detailed log of her photographs, sound and video recordings, and her original order has been preserved, although unique AFC ID numbers have been assigned to individual items. She assigned numbers to the photographs she herself took according to a system of "P" followed by a Roman numeral. This numbering system has been used to label each folder of photographs, but individual prints have been labeled using AFC ID numbers (PH0001, PH0002, etc.). Davis also used her own system to label sound recordings, using "AU," followed by sequential letters of the alphabet, and numbers to indicate multiple items within a given series (for example, AU-M1, AU-M2, etc. are a series of narrative legends that were purchased from the television station in Yunnan). While this order has been preserved, AFC has assigned ID numbers, SR01, SR02, etc. Davis used "V" followed by a number to organize moving images; and AFC has retained the numbers but used the preface "MV."
Listening and viewing access to the collection is unrestricted. Physical access to the collection is available at the Folklife Reading Room of the American Folklife Center. Restrictions may apply concerning the use, duplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a reference librarian in the Folklife Reading Room for specific information about this collection.
Duplication of the collection materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions. Please refer to the AFC web site for information on ordering copies of unpublished recordings ( http://www.loc.gov/folklife/recordering.html) and photographic materials ( http://www.loc.gov/folklife/photo_ordering.html).
Sara L. M. Davis donated this collection to the American Folklife Center on February 28, 2006. The collection was initially processed by Sarah Bradley Leighton in the spring of 2006, continued by Judy Ng and Charlotte Cushman in November 2007. The finding aid begun in 2006 has been completed and encoded in 2008 by Nora Yeh.
Sara L. M. Davis Collection on Tai Lüe Culture (AFC 2006/004), Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Davis, Sara L. M.,
Benjamin Botkin Lecture Series,
Photocopy of the first field notebook kept by Sara Davis. 160 pages.
Photocopy of the second field notebook kept by Sara Davis. 169 pages.
Photocopy of the third field notebook kept by Sara Davis. 239 pages.
Photocopy of the fourth field notebook kept by Sara Davis. 197 pages.
Photocopy of the logs kept by Sara Davis to record the contents, date, and location of field photographs, and collected videos and audio recordings. 96 pages.
Song text written in Tai Lüe with English notes and translations. 11 pages.
Song text written in Tai Lüe with English notes and translations. 11 pages.
Transcribed song lyrics written in Tai Lüe with English notes and translations. 4 pages.
Transcribed song lyrics written in Tai Lüe with English notes and translations. 28 pages.
Photocopies of articles written in Chinese and Tai Lüe by author, Ai No, expert on Tai Lüe culture and folklore. 186 pages.
Advertising a concert in Xishaungbanna of Sai Sang Mao, a famous Burmese Tai performer. 7 pages.
Monthly flip calendar for the year 2001 printed in Chinese and Tai Lüe with photographs. 7 pages.
200 pages.
3 pages.
Item No. 1 - Item No. 20.
Published material is printed in Chinese and Tai Lüe with some English translations. 63 pages.
Item No. 21 - Item No. 47.
Published material is printed in Chinese and Tai Lüe with some English translations. 72 pages.
[NOTE: Photographs in the PIII, PVII, and PXIII series are not included by donor.]
Monk initiation ceremony in Da Menglong, Xishuangbanna.
76 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Minority Atmosphere Park.
8 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
[NOTE: Photographs in the PIII series are not included by donor.]
Jinghong, general.
18 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Dai wedding, Dai Singer, Festival, Buddhist parade.
27 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Moonshine still near Ganlanba and monk initiation.
7 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
[NOTE: Photographs in the PVII series are not included by donor.]
Khu ba ceremony in Da Menglong, Xishuangbanna.
50 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Temples in Meng Zhe, Xishaungbanna.
73 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Temples in Meng Lian.
48 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Young singers in Ganlanda/Meng Ham, Xishuangbanna.
11 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Dragon boat races and song texts.
14 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
[NOTE: Photographs in the PXIII series are not included by donor.]
Kunming Nationalities Theme Park.
26 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Construction of Jinghong superhighway.
10 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
Tourism and hotel construction.
36 color prints. Photographer: Sara L. M. Davis.
[NOTE: These photographs were not assigned a roman numeral within the previous series.]
4 color prints. 1 black-and-white photograph.
People, exterior, architectural details of roof, doors, windows.
80 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Exterior windows and walls (writing and parts of murals). Interior pillars, ceiling, writing on wall, kitchen, drums.
75 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong
Exterior architectural details of roof, doors, windows. Interior pillars, ceiling, area for worship.
108 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Exterior pillars and murals.
104 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Exterior murals and living quarters.
96 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Exterior of buildings, murals, doors. Interior ceilings and pillars.
64 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Living quarters and monks.
56 color prints. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Exterior of buildings, roofs, doors, stone carvings.
38 color slides. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Murals.
38 color slides. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
Exterior of buildings, murals, windows, doors, ceilings, pillars, stone carving.
98 color slides. Photographer: Wilson Wong.
[NOTE: No AU-I or AU-V assigned by donor.]
Singing, flute.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Performed in homes of young boys undergoing initiation as monks.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Interview and song with Khana Zhuai, Sipsongpanna's most famous singer. (Recorded outside, several translators interpreting. Humming from recorder.)
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
"New Star" is backup band.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
[NOTE: No AU-I assigned by donor.]
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Performance by
Competition of two singers on occasion of six monks' ascension to "khu ba" status; performed on temple grounds
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Performance by
Competition of two singers on occasion of six monks' ascension to "khu ba" status; performed on temple grounds
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs] Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
"Sithat Auk Boht" sung by Yi Guang, Ai Khang Yay - narrative legend.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs] Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
"Wei Sian Tala." Sung by Yi Guang, Ai Sang, and Ai Gaew - narrative legend.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs] Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs] Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs] Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs] Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette recording.
Produced by the literary arts bureau of Sipsongpanna People's Broadcasting Corporation.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Recorded in Burma, for Yunnan Audio Visual Production, Co. in cooperation with Wat Ba Jie.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Recorded in Ganlanha, Yunnan.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Purchased at a stall in the Meng Hun Sunday morning market.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Purchased at a stall in the Meng Hun Sunday morning market.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Purchased at a stall in the Meng Hun Sunday morning market.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs]
Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs]
Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs]
Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Series Title: Minzu Yishu Zhi Hua: Minge. [Flowers of Ethnic Arts: Folksongs]
Tai Zu Minge [Tai Ethnic Folksongs].
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
60-minute microcassette field recording.
Purchased at Tai New Year Festivities.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
[Taped over English course tape]. Purchased at Tai New Year Festivities.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Ma Ha Liang, MC. Ai Kham Ngeun, MC. Various singers.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Purchased in Burma.
60-minute audiocassette tape.
60-minute audiocassette tape. Field recording by community organizer for German environmental project.
[NOTE: No AU-V assigned by donor.]
Han language songs written and produced by Banna artists in Jinghong, sponsored by state government.
Includes song titles and texts in Chinese.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Bought in Gasa shop in town center.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Bought in Gasa shop in town center.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Housewarming songs from Meng Yawng, Burma.
Singers unknown.
Bought in Gasa shop in town center.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Sipsawng paw, sipsawng mae - from Meng Yawng, Burma.
Singer unknown.
Bought in Gasa shop in town center.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Interview regarding popular music history in Banna region, Burmese influences, cultural issues, sinification, language, and new popular music movement.
Recorded in temple grounds - background noise of talk, work, chanting, music, drums, etc.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Interview regarding
Ganlanba, Sipsongpanna (Xishuangbanna), Yunnan.
60-minute microcassette field recording.
Pan Basangha. The Hunter's Questions.
60-minute audiocassette tape.
Dubii Sing field recording.
Recording of Tai Lüe folksongs. Sung by
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
Titles in Chinese.
CD. Commercial recording.
CD. Commercial recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape commercial recording.
From Shang State, Burma.
60-minute audiocassette tape.
From Shang State, Burma.
60-minute audiocassette tape.
Telephone interview in Tai Lüe and English with singer Hsai Hseng Mao.
Recorded in New Haven, Connecticut.
90-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
60-minute audiocassette tape field recording.
Yi Guang's house. October 1997.
Ganlanba scenery. Man Suan Man temple. November 1997.
Jingha scenery. January 1998.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Gasa: Ban Gong Mai wedding.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Annual Festival to celebrate freedom of religion: parade, popular music concert, monk graduation ceremony, etc.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Dragonboat Races.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Buddhist procession.
Temple festival.
Washing Buddha.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Rockets.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Meng Ham (Ban Ling), Ganlanba.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Competition - Tai language, popular song, concert.
VHS videocassette commercial recording.
60-minute Hi-8 videocassette field recording.
Mini-DV videocassette.
Mini-DV videocassette.
Tai Karaoke with lyric sheet in Tai Lüe and Chinese.
Published by Yunnan Audio Visual Production, Co.
VCD. Commercial recording.
Tai Karaoke featuring two older
Tai Lüe
Song titles and liner notes are in Tai Lüe and Chinese.
CD. Commercial recording.
Tai Karaoke features former monk/songwriter Khanan Lsang (was Maha Liang).
CD. Commercial recording.
Tai Karaoke with titles in Tai Lüe and Chinese.
VCD. Commercial recording.
Tai Nationality Folksong singer: Yu Wangnan. Liner notes in English and Chinese.
VCD version of BB1.
VCD. Commercial recording.
Government-produced for tourists.
VCD. Commercial recording.
For teaching Tai folk dance. Liner notes in Chinese.
VCD. Commercial recording.
VCD. Commercial recording.
VCD. Commercial recording.