History, culture and traditions of an ethnic group are preserved basically in three ways, including records in writing and cultural relics, oral presentations (poetry or music etc.), and also physical embodiment. As a nation replete with historical and cultural details, Qiang people don't have a script which has taken shape by now. Therefore, they have passed down and preserved most of their primary culture relatively intact in oral and physical ways, specifically through folk songs and dances. Folk dances of Qiang people are thus in essence "physical symbols".
Source:
http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/17Traditions2874.html
