Lijiang: The Homeland and Cultural Attire of the Naxi People

Author: Bai Lang
Publisher:
Publish 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 came to Lijiang Ancient Town with a monkey. Before that, he crawled in a sheepskin filled with gas, like a marine animal, across the Jinsha River. He was escorted by two Naxi boatmen whose buttocks were wrapped in white cloth strips. In Lijiang Ancient Town, Baudchand saw the sunset beautifully 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 bamboo flutes flowed down the painted walls and dark tiles. Nearly a century has passed. When I returned to Lijiang in May 2002, 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 ostentatiously 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," and it made me feel as if my bones were burned by fire. Gazing at the tragic spring, flowers withered and branches fell silent. I stood for a long time at Yin Snow Bridge, gazing up at the desolate snow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the sky. Today, the sacred mountain of the Naxi people is surrounded by a tourism storm. 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 university 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 towering snow peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a divine sanctity from above captivated me. Gazing deeply at my people’s sacred mountain, my tears flowed uncontrollably, and I couldn’t stop them. At that moment, I found 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 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 tomorrow’s brilliance; it spans vast spaces, 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 in the long river 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, refining the essence and discarding the dross, learning from the past to open the future; facing the transformation and integration of contemporary humanities; exchanging and assisting; comprehensively expanding; looking ahead to the future of humanities, creating new brilliance, refreshing the era, and shining across the world. Passing through the time tunnel, wandering on a cultural journey, integrating the scattered fragments of civilization across the land of China; reflecting on the present, carrying forward the past, and embracing the future. Following the direction of advanced culture, we present the "Humanistic China" series, allowing readers to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the various cultures of China through engaging and informative illustrations, thereby enhancing their cultural literacy and inspiring their passion for loving China. We hope that experts and scholars, in addition to their academic research, can contribute to the "Humanistic China" series. If you are willing to bestow works that meet the style of this series, we will be deeply grateful.