The Dynamic of Ritual: A Test of Turner's Ritual Structure Theory-Case Study on Lisu "Sword-Climbing"

Based on the academic history, this study summarized the basic meaning of Turner's Ritual Structure Theory. Then we chose the ethnic minority of Lisu's "Sword-Climbing" as a study case to examine Turner's theory. The results showed that the Lisu nationality is a structurally concealed society with a structural tension; the phenomenon of communitas exists during the process of "Sword-Climbing", but there is no "anti-structure". It is believed that Turner's theory has its limitations. When revealing the genesis principle of ritual, we need to go beyond the framework of social structure and explore the dynamics outside the structure.