Abstract: Folk beliefs of the Dai people in Xishuangbanna have been gradually formed along with the development of the Dai society, and are very common nowadays. After the introduction of Theravada Buddhism and the Han culture, and their fusion with the original folk beliefs, the Dai people now believe in various gods. The traditional social structure of the Dai has undergone deconstructions and reconstructions for many times, which has destroyed the foundation of folk beliefs and changed the spatial structure and social attributes of the belief systems. The decline and revival of the folk beliefs should be seriously considered by local government.

Key words: Xishuangbanna, folk beliefs, Dai