Seeking the Soul of Lijiang—Immersing in the Ancient Kingdom of Naxi

Author: Yang Fuyuan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Your eyes are too sore, 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 Naxi love poems of the secret realm Lijiang.
The traditional cultures of various ethnic groups living in the secret realm 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, 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. This makes the secret realm rich in cultural and historical resources and even more magical.
In the secret realm, the miraculous landscapes created by nature, nurtured by the traditional concept of "harmony between heaven and man," such as the green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, white clouds, bird songs, fragrant flowers, and a harmonious atmosphere, give people the feeling that it is a place where souls 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 in a certain portion. My hometown Lijiang—the former capital of the "Ancient Naxi Kingdom"—is located in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, in the mountain ranges of the eastern slope of the Himalayas. It is a cultural hub of the Himalayan cultural belt.
"Clear moonlight shines on ancient snow, pure air fills the universe," that sacred Naxi 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 Naxi Kingdom." 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 and countryside, 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 my homeland, readers can understand that there are both laughter and sorrow in them.