Nakhi (纳西族)

Geography and Language of Nakhi (纳西族)

Most Nakhi people live scattered around Yunnan province, though there are a few in Sichuan and a very few in Mankang County in Tibet Autonomous Region. Their language is related to Chinese-Tibetan and the pictographic ‘Dongba’ script and writing known as the ‘Geba’ script had already emerged over a thousand years ago. In 1957, these two were replaced by an alphabetic script, and oral and written Chinese has become important to the Nakhi over several hundred years as they have had cultural, political and economic contact with people all over China.

• Population: 308,839
• Distribution:  Yunnan and Sichuan
• Language: Nakhi
• Religion: Dongba and Lamaism

Traditions and Climate of Nakhi (纳西族)

Their main occupation is agriculture; crops include wheat, cotton, hemp and rice. Trees such as Korean pine and Chinese fir can be found locally, as well as natural medicinal products such as caterpillar fungus. Gold and silver are among the minerals found in Nakhi areas.

History of Nakhi (纳西族)

The Nakhi people’s history can be traced back to the third century BC; production underwent significant changes in the Lijiang area between the 10th and 13th centuries AD. Livestock was replaced by agriculture and many products using the area’s natural resources became a source of income. The Lijiang Prefecture was established by the Yuan dynasty and links between Lijiang and the rest of China were forged. As from 1723, court officials began to replace hereditary local chieftains.

Culture of Nakhi (纳西族)

Nakhi literature has a rich oral and written history. The ‘Dongba Scripture’ dates back to the Tang dynasty and is written in the old pictographic language. For studying the history, religion and literature of the Nakhi people, this is an extremely important work.

Nakhi songs are short and high-pitched with strong rhythms, accompanied by simple dances. The Yuan dynasty piece, ‘Baishaxiyue,’ was preserved after its rediscovery when the PRC was founded. Nakhi painting, sculpture and architecture have mixed with traditional Han and Tibetan styles.

Religion of Nakhi (纳西族)

The ‘Dongba’ religion, a form of Shamanism, was followed by most Nakhi people prior to 1949, though some were Lamaists. Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity, having only limited access to Lijiang, did not become as popular.

The Nakhi share the Lunar New Year, Torch Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and the Pure Brightness Festival with the Han Chinese, but they also have festivals such as the Farm-Tool Fair, the God of Rain Festival and the Mule and Horse Fair.

In the late Qing dynasty, some Nakhi people began burying their dead, though cremation was traditional. Patriarchal, monogamous families were prevalent; women did not have many choices and could not inherit property. Marriages were arranged. A matriarchal family structure still remained in Yongning County (Yunnan) and Yanyuan County (Sichuan) until the latter half of the 20th century. Families were traced through the maternal line, women were the heads of their families and property was passed through the mother to children or to nephews through her brothers. Women did most of the work and commanded great respect.

Feudal and manorial societies existed before 1949; landlords and rich peasants, comprising around ten per cent of the population, owned between 60 and 70 per cent of the land. Manorial lords owned most of the land in manorial societies and taxes such as fish tax and water tax were extracted from the peasants. Commoners were seen as second-class citizens and did not own land.

Modern Times of Nakhi (纳西族)

During the 1930s and 1940s, during the war against Japan, Lijiang was a trading centre for inner China, Tibet and India, and millionaires began to emerge, some of them Nakhis. This area had a well-developed handicraft industry; Lijiang was renowned for products made from leather and copper.