Buyei (布依族)

Geography and Language of Buyei (布依族)

There are believed to be around 2.9 million people belonging to the Buyei ethnic group, living in Guizhou province in southern China, as well as in Vietnam. They consider themselves to be Zhuang people, in spite of the Chinese insistence that they are a separate group.

The Buyei language belongs to the Tibetan branch. Until 1949, they used Chinese characters as they had no written system of their own but, since then, the government has helped them develop a written system based on the Latin alphabet.

• Population: 2,971,460
• Distribution:  Guizhou
• Language: Buyei
• Religion: Polytheism

Culture of Buyei (布依族)

The Buyei people have a rich literary history, including folk tales, songs, stories, proverbs and poems. Singing plays a large part in formal celebrations such as weddings and the weaving dance and lion dance are two of their favourites.

A batik factory was built in Anshun city in 1953, and it has since become popular both at home and abroad. Bamboo hats, sleeping mats and embroidery are also very artistic and of excellent quality.

Traditions of Buyei (布依族)

People mainly live in two-storey houses, with livestock on the ground floor and the family living upstairs, but some live in bungalows instead.

Though they are monogamous, young people can mix freely with members of the opposite sex, and can find lovers at fair and festivals. When they find someone, they will set a date when they can sing songs to each other and, after several dates, they may announce their plans to get married. In the past, marriages were affairs which were arranged by the couple’s parents.

Religion of Buyei (布依族)

Many Buyei people converted to Christianity as they were living near missionary outposts, though they still mostly share the same festivals as the Han Chinese. Their Ox King Festival falls on the 8th of April, when offerings are given to cattle who are then given the day off as a reward for all their hard work throughout the year.

Evidence suggests they have ancestry in common with the Zhuang people; the languages of both ethnic groups are similar. In 900 AD, after centuries of being referred to as ‘the alien barbarians,’ the Zhuang and Buyei people were finally recognised as two separate ethnic groups.
History

During the Qing dynasty, the feudal economy collapsed to be replaced by a landlord economy. The exploitation of poor peasants by landlords led to class conflicts and peasant uprisings. The biggest of these was the 1797 Nanlong Uprising.
Modern Times

Since 1949, productivity has greatly increased, and medical care and education have also improved.

Climate of Buyei (布依族)

A tropical climate and fertile land are ideal for farming; crops include sorghum, buckwheat, cotton, tobacco and tea. Coffee and cocoa have recently been introduced as extra cash crops, and bananas, silk, hemp and bamboo shoots are welcome additions to the local economy.