Abstract

This study investigates the educational strategies and transmission modalities necessary to preserve Wa ethnic folk melodies in Yunnan Province, China. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, interviews, and archival analysis, the study explores traditional and modern means of preserving Wa music history in the face of accelerating modernization and cultural globalization. Wa folk song, formerly deeply ingrained in daily life, thrived through oral transmission, communal rites, and social interaction. The study proposes a multi-layered preservation framework with three key strategies: integrating static and dynamic preservation, encouraging collaboration between local governments and communities, and utilizing modern technologies to improve intercultural dialogue. Traditional transmission techniques, such as family-based oral instruction, festival-centered performances, social communication, and traditional Wa opera, are compared to current modes, which include digital platforms, school curriculum, public festivals, and international interchange. Data show that hybrid preservation techniques that include institutional backing and grassroots engagement are the most effective at maintaining authenticity while stimulating innovation. Inclusive education offers a delicate mix between cultural preservation and adaptive modernity.

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