a. Brief Introduction
This 800-year-old habitation of the Naxi people isnoteworthy for its harmony with nature, ingenious architecture andurban facilities.
Lying in a broad, fertile valley in the northwest ofYunnan Province, the old town of Lijiang has been a commercial,political and cultural center of the Naxi people and other ethnicminorities for over eight centuries.
It was designated as a town around the beginning theYuan Dynasty (1271-1368). From 1253 on, the Naxi people of Lijiangdeveloped a unique social system, customs and culture of their ownunder the rule of a hereditary succession of chieftains of the Mu clan.In the 18th century, the Qing Dynasty rulers implemented a policy ofcultural interaction, and the Naxi people adopted the customs of theTibetan and Han peoples. Despite several earthquakes that afflictedLijiang, and because of renovation, most of the old town retains itsoriginal structure.
Lijiang is surrounded by the snow-covered YulongMountains. "There are four seasons on one mountain," says a folk songabout Yulong, "and the scenery changes every ten li (five km)." TheLijiang area is known as a treasure house of animals and plants, and ahuge natural reservoir. Water flowing down from melting glaciers andsnow high in the mountains irrigates the fields and provides water forthe residents.
Water, in fact, flows everywhere in Lijiang.Crystal-clear streams wind around all the houses and flows through thecourtyards. Stone bridges span the streams. Streets paved with coloredstones, including Sifang (Square) Street, are thus kept free from dustand mud in all seasons. The source of these streams is the Yuquan (JadeSpring) River, which meanders past the foot of Xiangshan (Elephant)Hill, north of Lijiang. In addition, there is the Baimalong(White-Horse Dragon) Pool and wells sunk around the numerous springs.The local people have made ponds along the courses of the springs. Theupper ponds supply drinking water, the middle ponds are for washingvegetables, and the lower ponds are for washing clothes. The springwater that overflows the banks is used for washing the streets.
All over the old town there are unique buildingsinspired by and in harmony with Nature. Cultural relics, both tangibleand intangible, also abound. In the vicinity of Lijiang there are theShuhe Folk Residence and Baisha Folk Residence Complex, as well ascultural sites like the Five Phoenix Tower in the Fuguo Temple, theGreat Treasure Palace and the Glazed Hall.
b. Cultural Heritage
Music
Almost all Lijiang counties have their own ensemblesof the traditional music, among which the Baihua and Dayan Troupe arethe best known. The musicians of the traditional music are mostlyadvanced in age and experienced in both music and story telling. Theyhave received the special attention of the government as carriers ofthe ancient culture of the Naxi people.
The most famous musical piece is the time-honoredBaisha Music Suite combining singing, dancing and instrumental music,also known asBieshixieli, or Beishixili. Other forms of music includethe Dongjing (Taoist Scripture) Music that originated among the Hanpeople and maintains the rhythms and tunes of ci and qu, lost forms ofclassical verse from central China. Various kinds of dance music arealso popular in the Lijiang area.
Murals
The renowned murals of Lijiang are to be found in thetown, and the 15 temples in the surrounding areas. These murals, datingfrom the Ming and Qing periods, depict religious themes. A large muralin the Dabaoji Palace in Baisha Village shows a hundred deities andfigures of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Taoism.
Dongba script and language
The most amazing feature of Lijiang is the Dongbascript, handed down for generations in the Lijiang area. Also known asthe Encyclopedia of the Naxi Minority, the scriptures comprise morethan 20,000 volumes recording the history and culture of the Naxipeople, among which is Cuomo, a description of the stories, steps,costumes, stage props, and musical instruments for several dozen Dongbaclassical dances.
The language used by the Naxi people in compilingtheir scriptures is Dongba, the world's only living language that stilluses hieroglyphics. Literally meaning "knowledge", it is the mainvehicle of the traditional culture of the Naxi People.
c. Architecture
Lijiang covers an area of 14 sq. km, and has over4,200 households. It is also known as Dayan Town, meaninglargeinkstone, as it is laid out in the shape of a traditional Chineseinkstone.
With Sifang Street as the central thoroughfare,Lijiang has houses made of stone and wood, combining the architecturalfeatures of the Han, Bai and Tibetan ethnic groups, as well as the Naxi.
A typical house has two stories. A row of three mainrooms on the ground floor faces south and is flanked on each side by arow of three rooms projecting at right angles and opening inward toform a front courtyard hidden from public view by a wall.
The three main rooms are for the elders, and the siderooms are for the younger members of the family. The roof edges overthe gables are embellished with fish-shaped boards, known locally as"suspended fish." In the Chinese language, "fish" and "surplus" soundthe same, so the carved fish are a sort of prayer for auspiciousnessand wealth. The doorway is decorated with exquisite carvings, and thecourtyard is paved with pebbles, colored tiles, or colored bricks. Themiddle room of the main row has six latticed windows ornamented withdesigns of flowers, birds and animals. A spacious veranda in front ofthe main rooms provides a space for the family members to relax in.Almost every household has a flowerbed and a pool in the courtyard.
d. Folk Culture
Lijiang is not only the cultural center of the Naxipeople, but also a meeting place for the Han, Tibetan, Bai and Naxicultures. Ever since the 7th century (during the Tang Dynasty), theNaxi people have cultivated their unique culture through learning fromother ethnic groups, including their unique pictographic script, songs,dances and operas.
