Abstract

Dai proverbs, as brilliant gems of Dai folk literature, represent the crystallization of Dai ecological wisdom and serve as carriers of local ecological knowledge. By exploring the trinity value encompassing ecological regularity, purposiveness, and civilizational significance embedded within these proverbs, we can establish their significance for ecological practice. The universal values inherent in Dai proverbs—truth, ethics, philosophy, sustainability, and poetic meaning—can foster the emergence of ecological community consciousness among all ethnic groups and promote the formation of an integrated ecological practical value system. Proverbs from various ethnic groups provide a window into the developmental achievements and cultural-spiritual worlds of different communities, collectively contributing to a shared spiritual homeland for the Chinese nation. This enhances the ecological community consciousness and practical significance of ecological practices within the national framework. Through analyzing Dai proverbs, this study identifies common cultural symbols and concepts that strengthen ethnic cultural identity, thereby facilitating the growth of the Chinese nation’s ecological community consciousness, the development of ecological practices, and the advancement of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.