On the Statelets between Nanzhao and the Dali Kingdom
After the demise of Nanzhao 南诏, the Buddhist kingdom that integrated the tribes of the Erhai region in the second half of the first millennium, local strongmen proclaimed a succession of short-lived statelets before Duan Siping 段思平 in 937 CE established the Dali Kingdom 大理国.
The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.
Jim Goodman: The Terrace Builders: The Hani and their Neighbors in Yunnan's Ailao Mountains
Abstract: The rice terraces of the Ailao Mountains in southern Yunnan province, China, are some of the oldest terraced farms in Asia. First mentioned in Tang Dynasty records, these farms, 80% of which are irrigated, with water running through them all year round, have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. In 2013 UNESCO declared the heartland of this area a World Heritage Site. The Terrace Builders is a detailed account of how these farms are made and used, the cities and mountains of Honghe Prefecture and the far north of Vietnam, as well as the various ethnic minorities who live there. The book pays special attention to the Hani people, the largest ethnic group in the area, and includes summaries of the culture and clothing of their neighbors the Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. The book includes 300 photos of the land and its people.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Benzhu is the native believe system of the Bai peole.
A spectacularly narrow canyon high above the Jinsha River.
Ronald G. Knapp: China's Old Dwellings
Few people know as much about Chinese architecture as Knapp: from palaces to humble homes he explains important building principles; the connection between environment and housing styles and the development of style over time. A section on minority housing styles complements the book.
A well-preserved Bai merchant town with perhaps the best examples of Bai traditional architecture.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Yu An Ceremonies | 07 Jun |
| Raosanling | 07 Jun |
| Start of Raosanling | 07 Jun |
| Raosanling | 08 Jun |
| Benzhu Worship | 08 Jun |
| Raosanling in Heyicheng | 09 Jun |
| Praying For Rain | 10 Jun |
| Benzhu Worship | 10 Jun |
| Raosanling in Majiuyi | 10 Jun |
| Medicine Buddha Birthday | 13 Jun |
| Mango Festival | 15 Jun |
| Kuzhazha | 15 Jun |
Markets this Sunday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Jiuzhou | 旧州 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Sanying | 三营 |
| Shuixie | 水泄 |
| Yunlong | 云龙县 |
| Binchuan | 宾川县 |
| Beitou | 北头 |
| Liantie | 炼铁 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Lawu | 拉乌 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Changxin | 长新 |
| Jianchuan | 剑川县 |
| Eryuan | 洱源县 |
| Gonglang | 公郎镇 |
| Pingpo | 平坡 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 西庄 | |
| 云南驿村 | |
| 寅街村 | |
| Minjian | 民建乡 |
| 青苗 | |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| Niujie | 牛街彝族乡 |
| 前所 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Pingbian | 屏边苗族自治县 |
| Diema | 垤玛 |
| Mengzi | 蒙自县 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Lvchun | 绿春县 |
| Majie | 马街 |
| Chake | 岔科 |
| Jiayin | 甲寅 |
| Azhahe | 阿扎河 |
| Longwu | 龙武镇 |
| Liangdi | 浪堤 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Baohua | 宝华 |
| Nanke | 南科 |
| Luoen | 洛恩 |
| Jinping | 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Mengqiao | 勐桥乡 |
| Laomeng | 老勐 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Pingzhai | 平寨乡 |
| Guangnan | 广南县 |
| Pingyuan | 平远 |
| Zhesang | 者桑乡 |
| Banggu | 蚌谷乡 |
| Muyang | 木央镇 |
| Babao | 八宝镇 |
| Nanping (Majie) | 南屏镇 (马街） |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |