失われつつある口承文芸の復興に向けて──ミャンマー北部における取り組み

The global decline in linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the most pressing challenges confronting humanity today. Rapid social changes have accelerated the erosion of Kachin oral culture, an indigenous heritage in northern Myanmar, leading to a loss of the cultural values embedded in these traditions. This paper introduces our initiatives in the documentation, preservation, and revitalization of oral heritage among Kachin communities, focusing particularly on efforts made since 2020 to revive these traditions among the youth. Our experience highlights the importance of transcending traditional “research on” communities to adopting approaches such as “research for,” “research with,” and “research by” community members, which play a vital role in the revitalization of Kachin oral literature. Through our project, community members have shifted from being subjects of research to active participants or co-researchers, engaging in research and generating knowledge themselves. Our community-based efforts have sparked renewed interest in oral traditions, particularly among Kachin youth. We hope that our approach will serve as a model for others aiming to raise awareness and support the revitalization of their cultural heritage.