Students in Prof. Mark Bender’s Ch 5400 Chinese Performance Traditions published three co-authored essays introducing epics from Southwest China on the World Epics blog.

Under the guidance of Prof. Bender, students organized in small groups to co-author the essays. The CH 5400 course introduces epics, folk stories, speaking and singing performances, folksongs, and local drama traditions of many local cultures and ethnic groups in China.

Click here to read introductions to Book of Origins, Miluotuo (starring a female creator goddess), and Butterfly Mother.

World Epics is an amazing blog-site created by Dr. Jo Ann Cavallo of Columbia University April 22, 2026