Seeking the Soul of Lijiang: Embracing the Ancient Kingdom of the Naxi

Author: Yang Fupu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Your eyes are too painful, come here to see the flowers in the meadow! Your feet are too tired, come here to step on the lush grass of Youzhuang! Your hands are too tired, come here to take the milk of the yaks in peace! – Excerpt from the ancient poems of the Naxi people in the secret realm of Lijiang.
The traditional cultures of various ethnic groups living in the secret realm of the homeland are diverse and colorful. Each ethnic group has its own unique songs, dances, customs, rituals, cuisine, housing, clothing, and architecture, forming a splendid cultural landscape. In the secret realm of the homeland, there are also various historical relics, architectural complexes, ruins, and heritage sites created by different ethnic groups in various historical periods, which possess historical, artistic, scientific, and tourism value, making the secret realm of the homeland rich in cultural and historical resources and even more magical.
In the secret realm of the homeland, the extraordinary landscapes created by nature's artistry, nurtured by the traditional concept of "harmony between heaven and man," such as the green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, white clouds, birdsong, fragrant flowers, and harmony, as well as the sense of being in a "paradise" when immersed in them, make one feel that it is truly a place where the soul can be purified! Especially for readers who have long lived in the city and are physically and mentally exhausted, a visit here will yield multifaceted rewards.
This series of books vividly records the real lives of the people in the secret realm of the homeland. My hometown, Lijiang—the former capital of the "Ancient Kingdom of the Naxi"—is located in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, nestled in the mountain ranges of the eastern slope of the Himalayas. It is a cultural hub of the Himalayan cultural belt.
"Everlasting snow under the moon, pure air fills the universe," the Naxi sacred mountain—Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, standing at an altitude of 5,596 meters—uses its daily cool and refreshing air to nurture the ethereal and auspicious atmosphere of the "Ancient Kingdom of the Naxi." My childhood and youth were spent in the ancient city and the wilderness. Whether I was far away or returned to my homeland, no matter where I traveled in life, a trace of snow from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain always lingered in my heart, enlightening my soul.
This book faithfully selects some footprints from my long journey through my homeland's fields, recording unforgettable people and events, while also sharing the inner journey of my heart as I wander through the landscapes of my homeland. From the footprints I left behind in these fields, readers can understand that there are both laughter and sorrow in them.