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.
Ritual masks used in the Sacred Bird Dance 神鸟舞 of the Dai people in Menglian county 孟连县.
Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China
Even if Chinese civilization has developed more against than with nature, the Mao years were a particular exercise in environmental destruction. In one case-study Shapiro tells the story of the draining of the northern part of Dianchi Lake, one of the first steps turning Kunming's lake into the fetid cess-pool it is today.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Extremely beautiful Wenchang Temple, created in part by national level Intangible Cultural Heritage transmitter Li Yunyi.
The Danxia, or red sandstore, cliffs around Liming are a hikers' and climbers' paradise that is just now being discovered.
C. Patterson Giersch: Asian Borderlands: The Transformation of Qing China's Yunnan Frontier
Yunnan was not always China: indeed not so long ago large parts of Yunnan were only nominally part of the empire. To make Yunnan, outside the main Han cities, a Chinese province required significant effort. Here Giersch's study on Yunnan's hinterland makes an interesting if academic read.
The turn of the Yangzi made Chinese civilization possible and was the location of many important battles.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Pupeng Zhejume Pilgrimage | 05 Nov |
| Start of Winter | 07 Nov |
| Guanyin Enlightenment | 08 Nov |
| Dharmic Assembly | 11 Nov |
| Benzhu Worship | 11 Nov |
| Single's Day | 11 Nov |
| Benzhu Festival | 12 Nov |
| Temple Fair | 12 Nov |
| Benzhu Worship | 12 Nov |
| Open Door Festival | 12 Nov |
| Dongshan Tuzhu Temple Fair | 13 Nov |
| Benzhu Festival | 15 Nov |
Markets this Thursday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Jijie | 鸡街乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Nanxin | 南新 |
| Yangcen | 羊岑 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Shanyang | 衫阳 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Maidi | 脉地 |
| Gudi | 古底 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Caojian | 漕间 |
| Taiyi | 太邑彝族乡 |
| Daying | 大营 |
| Qiaohou | 乔后 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| 太和社区 | |
| 鲁庄 | |
| Qiaodian | 乔甸镇 |
| Junhuacun | 均华村 |
| Lijiang | 丽江 |
|---|---|
| Shigu | 石鼓镇 |
| Xishuangbanna | 西双版纳 |
|---|---|
| Xiding | 西定哈尼族乡 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Dianwei | 甸尾乡 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Heping | 和平乡 |
| Shalatuo | 沙拉托 |
| Daheigong | 大黑公 |
| Wuwan | 乌弯 |
| Baixian | 白显 |
| Panzihua | 攀枝花 |
| Tongchang | 铜厂 |
| Zhemi | 者米拉祜族乡 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Mangxin | 芒信镇 |
| Qiannuo | 千糯 |
| Baozang | 宝藏乡 |
| Diqing | 迪庆 |
|---|---|
| Shangjiang | 上江 |