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A Study on the Preservation of Cultural Memory and Identity — Taking the Traditional Dances of the Amis and Atayal Peoples of the Austronesian Language Family as Examples

Yan Gong, Zhiru Shi*

Research on Art Design / 2026,2(3): 73-82 / 2026-08-20 12 5

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• Information:

  School of Music, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou

• Keywords:
  Cultural memory; Austronesian ethnolinguistic group; Amis people; Atayal people; Identity construction
• Abstract: By examining the social structures of traditional dances among Amis and Atayal peoples of the Taiwan region, this study explores how dance serves as a mechanism for preserving cultural memory and as a medium for identity formation. The findings indicate that traditional dances of both ethnic groups play a crucial role in reinforcing intra-group identity within their respective ritual frameworks. As these societies face social transformations driven by commercialization and modernization, they have effectively integrated traditional dances into school curricula, thereby mitigating the crisis of cultural disconnection. In the process of cultural transmission, the traditional dances of both ethnic groups are influenced by their political contexts. Beyond fostering group cohesion, these dances also contribute significantly to the preservation of cultural memory and the construction of collective identity.
• DOI: 10.35534/rad.0203008 (registering DOI)
• Cite: Gong, Y., & Shi, Z. R. (2026). A Study on the Preservation of Cultural Memory and Identity — Taking the Traditional Dances of the Amis and Atayal Peoples of the Austronesian Language Family as Examples. Research on Art Design, 2(3), 73−82.