Collective Memory and Cultural Identity: A Case Study of the Mosuo People in Southwest China

Abstract (English)

The Mosuo people of southwestern China, renowned for their matrilineal kinship system and "walking marriages" (tisese), offer a compelling lens to examine the interplay between collective memory and cultural identity. This paper explores how Mosuo traditions—oral histories, ritual practices, and material culture—serve as vessels of collective memory, reinforcing a distinct identity amid modernization pressures. It further addresses challenges such as tourism commodification, state-led assimilation, and generational shifts threatening these memory systems. Ultimately, the paper argues that the Mosuo’s adaptive resilience lies in their ability to reinterpret tradition while resisting cultural erasure, providing broader insights into indigenous identity preservation in a globalized world.