Introduction

Abstract

Folklore is the result of a mass of humanity’s intellectual creations and a vital ingredient of human civilization. More important, different ethnic communities have different cultures that reflect different cultural features. Folklore is gradually formed from cultural features and its development is continually affected by culture. Thus, distinct cultural features enable an ethnic community to develop an inside connection within their own culture. From this point of view, folklore has become a mark of an ethnic community, reflecting the community’s identity and distinguishing it from other ethnic communities. Folklore also plays an irreplaceable role in the lives of ethnic communities. Its content contributes to the sustainable use and preservation of biodiversity, which is fundamental to the sustainable development of ethnic communities. For instance, some traditional dance steps are in fact steps of traditional production skills. Thus, folklore does not only contribute to the diversification of culture but is also, more important, a mark of connection with an ethnic community’s identity and a survival instrument for ethnic communities.