Cultural geography of Dong ethnic group’s Grand Song

This paper critically deals with the Dong ethnic group’s Grand Song, which was listed as UNESCO s representative intangible cultural heritage in 2009. The content and personality of the Dong ethnic group’s Grand Song which became the world s intangible cultural heritage reflects China s position and has its own limitations in the following points. First of all, by emphasizing the fact that the above Grand Song is called a polyphonic chorus , Chinese government \& UNESCO still accept the political context of the founding of China that it relieved national inferiority and regained pride in China.In addition, the minority group of the Southwest region which has lived without its own written language, defines its typicality as a tool to hand down traditional knowledge and culture. And it interfere with revealing its regional characteristic.In this regard, this paper examined natural geographic conditions, cultural landscapes, and historical backgrounds and identified social contexts and meanings based on the region whose people actually enjoy the Grand Song by differentiating in recognition on the Grand Song in the existing UNESCO and Chinese government.Songs and vocal cultures mainly enjoyed by people in the southern region of Dong ethnic group are based on free dating and endogamy among the Dong men and women.It also reveals that singing is a socialization process and an act that has established itself as one of the members of society in the southern region of Dong ethnic group.