An Ethnolinguistic Remark on the fēiyī 飛衣

Abstract

This paper inquires the relationship between two Trans-Himalayan languages, namely Lohorung (Eastern Kiranti) and Old Chinese (Sinitic) by comparing their ‘soul’-related vocabulary. Several identified etymological cognates and rather unexpected parallels between the Lohorung maŋsuʔ ‘household shrine’ and the fēiyī 飛衣 ‘flying garment’ (i.e. T-shaped silk banner) excavated at the Mǎwángduī 馬王堆 site may in turn just add another perspective in understanding the function and meaning of this controversially discussed archaeological find.

Keywords

• Etymological cognates. Kiranti. Maŋsuʔ. Mǎwángduī. Old Chinese. T-shaped Silk Banner