★ Classics of Yunnan Ethnic Groups in English Translation is a collection of 17 classical works from 11 ethnic groups in Yunnan Province, published in the bilingual form.
★ This is the first time in China that a large-scale English translation of Yunnan's rich ethnic classics has been undertaken.
★ The classics selected for the set are mainly myths and epics of various ethnic groups, such as Zhaoshutun, Old Folk Songs of the Dai & the Naxi, Manau Jaiwa, PamiChali, Zhisa Jiabu, Chamu, Meige and The Gold Flute, etc.

Chamu is the genesis epic of the Yi people. Among all the extant literature which reflect the lives and history of the Yi people during the primitive age, Chamu is a written work that ranks at the top in its length, popularity and influence.
Cha means origin. Yi people define the narration for the origin of something on earth as a cha. Chamu means the origin of everything.
Chamu is regarded as the cultural root of the Yi people, the treasure house of Yi literature and the encyclopedia of the Yi people. Chamu covers many miraculous legends and touching myths that have been told by generations of Yi people. The main content includes the creation of the world, the fl ood, the origin of human beings, the origin of ethnic groups, the origin of everything and the elixir. All the myths recorded in Chamu are rooted in the lives of the Yi people during the primitive age.

Book One // 1
Prologue // 3
Canto 1　The Creation of the World // 7
Canto 2　The One-Eyed Era // 29
Canto 3　The Vertical-Eyed Era // 61
Canto 4　The Horizontal-Eyed Generation // 111

Book Two // 155
Canto 1　Flax and Cotton // 157
Canto 2　Silk and Brocade // 179
Canto 3　Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron and Tin // 197
Canto 4　Paper and Brush Pen // 215
Canto 5　Books // 233
Canto 6　The Elixir // 255