Tracing Minority Traditions in China and Vietnam: A New Research Group at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, HSE University – St Petersburg

In August 2025, the research-and-learning group “Minority Folklore and Heritage across China and Vietnam” launched at IAAS, HSE University. Bringing together students from different cohorts and two IAAS degree programs, the group will work under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. E. O. Starikova (Department of Chinese, Southeast and South Asian Studies).

Photo courtesy of E. Starikova

Focusing on a comparative perspective, the team will study the folklore and intangible cultural heritage of minority communities in both countries. Students will analyze state frameworks for safeguarding heritage; trace initiatives that preserve writing traditions, and examine how museums and cultural institutions represent the cultures of smaller ethnic groups. The group will also explore storytelling practices, with particular attention to fairy-tale traditions on both sides of the China–Vietnam border.

Follow the group’s updates and research highlights on the IAAS website.