Lijiang, My Homeland (The Homeland and Cultural Attire of the Naxi People)

Author: Bai Lang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-02-01
Features: An ancient Naxi song says, "Trees and stones make time flow." In February 17, 1906, the Frenchman Fran?ois Baudchand arrived in Lijiang Ancient Town with a monkey. Before that, he traveled like a marine animal, floating in a sheepskin bag filled with gas, across the Jinsha River. Two Naxi boatmen, wrapped in white cloth around their buttocks, escorted him. In Lijiang Ancient Town, Baudchand saw the setting sun brilliantly illuminating the snow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Four-Square Street was filled with a mixed scent of fish and incense. Horses slipped on the smooth stone pavement, a crane sang loudly in the nearby paddy fields, flocks of birds whispered on the ancient pagodas, and the clear melody of a bamboo flute flowed down the painted walls and dark tiles. Nearly a century has passed. In May 2002, when I returned to Lijiang, everything Baudchand described, except for the sunset and snow, had vanished without a trace. The ancient Lijiang, encased in steel and concrete, had entered a brand-new modern era, filled with tourists singing and dancing, flashy fake antiques, and deliberately elegant red lanterns. Strolling around the ancient town for half a day, I barely saw a few Naxi people in traditional attire. As a Naxi person, I felt a sense of "living elsewhere." The possibility of the former Naxi ancient town becoming a "pseudo-Naxi ancient town" has been increasing, and tradition is dying bit by bit. "Every death takes away a part of me," leaving me with the pain of my bones being burned by fire. Gazing at the sorrowful snow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the sky, I stood motionless at Yin Snow Bridge for a long time. Today, this sacred mountain of the Naxi people is surrounded by the encirclement of the tourism boom. I couldn’t help but remember the scene of returning to Lijiang from Jiangnan in January 1988. It was my first time back home during my college years. After traveling nearly 4,000 kilometers, I boarded a bus from Dali to Lijiang. The bus, like a beetle, wound through red earth and green forests, climbing over the Iron Armor Mountain. Suddenly, the boundless blue sky revealed the massive snow peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, its white light shining down from above. A divine sanctity from the heavens captivated me. Gazing deeply at my people’s sacred mountain, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes, unstoppable. At that moment, I rediscovered the roots of my life. This experience convinced me firmly that as a race that has always followed the earth, the salvation of the Naxi people in the future can only come from the earth!
Humanities refer to the various cultural phenomena in human society. China refers to the collective name of the 56 ethnic groups in our country. Humanistic China has a long history, once glorious, now splendid, and bright tomorrow. It spans a vast space, with numerous ethnic groups, diverse and uniquely Eastern. Philosophy, economy, military, science and technology, law, ethics, education, ethnicity, religion, literature, archaeology, cultural relics, and folk customs have evolved over the course of history, accumulating an immeasurable wealth. Despite being mixed with good and bad, they have permeated the social life of the Chinese nation for generations, influencing every Chinese citizen. Looking back at traditional humanities, refine the essence, discard the dross, and draw lessons from the past to enlighten the present; facing the transformation and integration of contemporary humanities, exchange and help each other, and comprehensively expand; looking ahead to the future of humanities, create new brilliance, refresh the era, and shine worldwide.
Traveling through the tunnel of time, exploring the journey of culture, we integrate the scattered fragments of civilization across the land. Reflecting on the past, carrying forward the legacy, and opening the future. Following the direction of advanced culture, we present the "Humanistic China" series, aiming to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the various cultures of China among the general readers through popular and engaging visuals, thereby enhancing their cultural literacy and inspiring their passion for loving China. We sincerely hope that experts and scholars, in addition to their academic research, can contribute to the "Humanistic China" series. If you are willing to share works that align with the style of this series, we would be deeply grateful.