Lijiagou - The Ancient Tradition of Matrilineal Villages

Author: Qian Junhua (Author), Zitu Photography Group (Photographer)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Here live the world's freest men and women, who still preserve the ancient and mysterious custom of "walking marriage." This place has unique family structures and religious beliefs, being the only surviving remnant of a matrilineal society in China that has long disappeared. This book reveals the emotional composition and cultural secrets of the "Daughter Kingdom" through years of in-depth household surveys and "oral history records." It is a mysterious small village surrounded by thirteen mountains. Here, there is the freest form of marriage, inhabited by freest men and women. Lijiazui is a complete continuation of the primitive matrilineal clan society and an ancient heritage of matrilineal clan culture. They are descendants of Mongolians who moved away from their homeland. Local indigenous elders all believe they are descendants of "Nabka." "Nabka" means Genghis Khan; descendants of Nabka are the descendants of Genghis Khan. The people of Lijiazui practice "walking marriage," where couples unite at night and separate in the morning. "Everywhere in the border area of Sichuan and Yunnan, you can see my footprints." The large family here is an extremely rare matrilineal family cluster discovered so far. It belongs to a pure family composed of direct blood relations and holds an important place in the history of human family systems. This book comprehensively and specifically records the life status and lifestyle of the matrilineal village of Lijiazui, as well as their living environment, presenting to us a full picture of the continuation and inheritance of the ancient culture of a matrilineal village.