Abstract

In the context of the country's active promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yi medicine, as a crucial component of this tradition, its valorization and protection have become an important issue for the country. This paper investigates the valorization of the Yi Script and Yi Medical Practices in the name of Traditional Chinese Medicine at a contemporary healthcare institution in China, highlighting the challenges faced by ethnic minority groups in preserving their cultural and linguistic identities. The study focuses on a healthcare institution that employs bilingual signage and incorporates Yi cultural symbols, analyzing how these efforts reflect broader tensions between cultural preservation and linguistic commercialization. Data were collected from field notes, photographic records, and Yi-related documents and materials. Drawing on theories of language commodification and authenticity, this paper emphasizes the complexities of balancing cultural pride and narrative authority with economic imperatives for ethnic groups. Ultimately, it underscores the ongoing struggle for ethnic minorities to navigate the intersections of culture, commerce, and national identity in a globalized, Mandarin-dominated society.

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