On the Origin of Buddhism in Dali
Sometime during Nanzhao period, the Dali region became a Buddhist kingdom. But when and how did Buddhism actually arrive in Dali? On this topic central to understanding the Nanzhao and the Dali Kingdom, historians remain divided, reflecting not only the scarcity of historic material, but perhaps also political considerations.
In Huize, the old capital of copper in Yunnan, many splendid guildhalls survive.
John Israel: Lianda: A Chinese University in War and Revolution
Everyone knows about the Mao's Long March, but a few years later another long march took place: that of Chinese students leaving their cushy campuses on the east coast, trekking all the way to Yunnan where their universities reformed as Lianda, the united university. Kunming, then a total backwater, became a hotbed for new ideas, not just scientific. We liked the section of east coast girls scampering around Mengzi in their latest fashion.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Sculpture making in the Dali region.
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.
An ancient burial mountain.
Yunnan's only Shui-Township with stunning karst scenery.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Daba Spring Festival Evening Party | 16 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 17 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship (Baofeng) | 21 Feb |
| Bai Opera | 21 Feb |
| Tibetan Festival | 22 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 22 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 22 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 22 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 22 Feb |
| Lisu Festival | 22 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 22 Feb |
| Benzhu Worship | 22 Feb |
Markets this Monday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Jiulong | 九龙乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Xintun | 辛屯 |
| Biaocun | 表村 |
| Jizushan | 鸡足山 |
| Songgui | 松桂 |
| Longjie | 龙街 |
| Tuanjie | 团结 |
| Misha | 弥沙 |
| Baishi | 白石 |
| Shaping | 沙平村 |
| Huangping | 黄平镇 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 三胜 | |
| Houshancun | 后山村 |
| Caifeng | 财丰 |
| 西庄 | |
| 寅街村 | |
| Miaojie | 庙街镇 |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Taiping | 太平乡 |
| Miaowei | 苗尾傈僳族乡 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Laozhai | 老寨苗族乡 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Chemalong | 车玛龙 |
| Sankeshu | 三棵树 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Puxiong | 普雄 |
| Dixibei | 地西北 |
| Shaochong | 哨冲镇 |
| Niujie | 牛街镇 |
| Baihe | 白河乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Xiaopingtian | 小平田 |
| Wama | 瓦马彝族白族乡 |
| Tengchong | 腾冲县 |