Abstract: Based on the samples of body movements in the San Gong Xia Shui Cao in Guitang Village in Fujian, the present paper explored the logic among historical memory, body movement and ethnic identity by using text analysis and field investigation and integrating Turner's theory of ceremony and theory of ethnic group. The study shows that performance of body movement in rural society ceremony has the important function of retaining and transferring historical memory; in the field of body movement displaying historical memory, original historical memory outlines the diversified origin of folk sports culture, constructive historical memory strengthens ethnic identity, and the structure and anti-structure of historical memory in reality sublimates the symbolic connotation of body movement; the logic connection among historical memory, body movement and ethnic identity is constructed in the field of historical scene reproduction.

Key words: historical memory, ethnic identity, local rituals, body movements, ritual sports