Pioneers of the Tropical Rainforest: A Record of the Investigation in Hainan Li Village

Author: Li Lulu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: For a long time, I have always hoped to have the opportunity to conduct field research on Hainan Island. The reason is simple: the region is one of China's most important tropical rainforest areas and is surrounded by the sea. The Li people, who live in the area, are one of the oldest ethnic groups in China and descendants of the Baiyue. They have complex branches and diverse origins, making comparative studies with other ethnic groups one of the most promising topics in anthropological research. This not only helps to analyze the origins of Li culture but also serves as a key to solving the early history of southern indigenous peoples. The focus of this survey is on the Paizi Village of the Sha Li people. The reason for choosing this village as the research subject is that it has several factors: first, the village retains many characteristics of Sha Li culture and is representative; second, the survey should follow the method of tracking research, but it must have a fixed village as a starting point; third, Hainan is currently constructing the Guangba Reservoir, and Paizi Village is in the inundation area, with residents to be relocated to northern hillside areas. Although it is still called Paizi Village, traditional artifacts and cultural elements will be impacted by changing times. Therefore, our survey has a salvage nature, documenting the traditional culture of Paizi Village before it is submerged.