Yunnan Ethnic Minority Image Library - Yi Ethnic Group

Author: Editorial Committee of "Illustrated Album of Yunnan's Ethnic Minorities"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Yi ethnic group is the most populous, with numerous subgroups, and widely distributed among the ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province. Most of them live in mountainous areas, with some residing in alpine regions, while a few live in flatlands and river valleys. They are primarily distributed across Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi provinces, with a current population of over 6.57 million. Among them, Yunnan has the largest population, numbering over 4.05 million. The Yi people are distributed in most counties and cities across the province, with particularly concentrated populations in the Ailao Mountains and Wumeng Mountains in Chuxiong and Honghe prefectures, as well as in the small Liangshan area in northwest Yunnan (including Ninglang, Yongsheng, and Huaping counties). The Lijiang region has a Yi population of over 190,000, with Ninglang Yi Autonomous County accounting for over 130,000. Since the Ninglang Yi people primarily migrated from the Daliangshan area in Sichuan, these inhabited regions are traditionally referred to as "Liangshan." To distinguish them from Sichuan's Daliangshan, they are also called "Yunnan Small Liangshan." The Yi ethnic group has a long history and a rich and diverse folk culture. Their "Solar Calendar" and "Twelve-Animal Calendar" are unique. They have over 100 self-designations and exonyms, with the main ones being Nisu Bo, Nasu Bo, Niesu Bo, Gaisu Bo, Sani Bo, and Axi Bo. After the liberation, based on the wishes of the Yi people, these were unified as the Yi ethnic group. The character "Yi" in "dingyi" (a type of ancient vessel) is both the transliteration of the Yi people's self-designation and carries the meaning of solemnity, antiquity, abundance, and prosperity. The Yi people have their own language and script, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It has six dialects, with the Xiao Liangshan Yi language belonging to the Shiza Tushi dialect of the northern dialect. Historically, the Yi people used their script to write historical records, literature, astronomy, medical books, and religious classics, such as the Lero Te Yi, a creation epic of the Liangshan Yi people. The Yi ethnic group celebrates many festivals, including the Mizi Festival, the Yi Calendar Festival, Qingming, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Winter Solstice, as well as the Flower Arranging Festival and the Costume Competition Festival. Among these, the Torch Festival is the most grand. The woolen rugs woven by the Yi people, the embroidered pouches with beautiful patterns, and the finely crafted wooden lacquer vessels are distinctive handicrafts in their daily lives. The Yi ethnic group has numerous subgroups, and their clothing varies greatly across regions, with nearly 100 types of attire differences, all dazzling and unique in their own way. Before the age of 15, Yi girls wear red and white children's skirts and single braids. Upon turning 15, some regions hold a ceremony called "Sala Luo," which means "changing skirts, combing double braids, and stretching ear threads," marking the girl's transition to adulthood. After 15, they wear floor-length gowns with black midsections, comb their single braids into double ones, wear headscarves embroidered with colorful flowers, and remove the old ear rings from their childhood, replacing them with shiny silver earrings. The "Sala Luo" ceremony signifies the beginning of the girl's golden age. The Yi people worship nature, animals, plants, and ancestors, believing that the sky, sun, moon, mountains, rivers, and stones all possess spirits. Among these spirits, the Gesi Sky God is considered the greatest, followed by the Mountain Gods. However, some Yi subgroups have sky gods but do not worship them (not Gesi Sky God), and often engage in conflicts between humans and gods. The gods unleash various disasters to destroy humanity, but these are always overcome by human victory. More Yi subgroups believe that the sky god is the ruler of all things, and that human life, fortune, and misfortune are all in his hands. Therefore, they place great importance on sacrificing to the sky god.