Village of Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Kunming

The Naxi Ethnic Minority Village (纳西族村) is one of the unique villages featured in the Yunnan Ethnic Villages (云南民族村) located in Kunming, Yunnan Province. This village showcases the rich culture, architecture, and traditions of the Naxi people (纳西族), one of the distinct ethnic groups native to Yunnan.

Overview of the Naxi Ethnic Minority

The Naxi ethnic group (纳西族) has a population of 310,000, primarily concentrated in the Yulong Naxi Autonomous County (玉龙纳西族自治县) in Lijiang City (丽江市). Small populations also inhabit surrounding counties. The Naxi people are well-known for their unique culture and traditions, including the Dongba script (东巴文), which is regarded as a "living fossil" of pictographic writing. This ancient writing system is still in use today in certain Naxi communities.

One of the most important texts written in Dongba script is the "Dongba Scripture" (东巴经), which serves as an encyclopedic record of the Naxi people’s history, culture, and beliefs.

Naxi Ancient Music

Naxi ancient music (纳西古乐) is another highlight of the Naxi culture. It blends ancient melodies from Central China’s Taoist music (洞经音乐) with Naxi rhythms and has become a precious gem in ethnic music.

Festivals and Celebrations

The Naxi people celebrate numerous traditional festivals, with the most significant being the Sanduo Festival (三朵节). "Sanduo" (三朵) is the guardian deity worshipped by the entire Naxi ethnic group, also known as "Apu Sanduo" (阿普三朵), meaning "Ancestor (or Grandfather) Sanduo." According to legend, Sanduo was a warrior deity born under the sign of the sheep. On the eighth day of the second lunar month and during the sheep day of the eighth lunar month, people from surrounding areas gather at the Sanduo Pavilion (三朵阁) to burn incense and worship the god.

In the past, all Naxi people embarking on long journeys would visit the Sanduo Pavilion to pray for the deity’s protection. Since 1987, the Sanduo Festival, held on the eighth day of the second lunar month, has been recognized as the official ethnic festival of the Naxi people.

In addition to the Sanduo Festival, the Naxi people celebrate other traditional festivals such as:

• Torch Festival (火把节)
• July Mule and Horse Fair (七月骡马会)
• Bao Burning Festival (烧包节)

Other local Naxi communities also hold various cultural events, such as the Baishuitai Gathering (白水台会) in Sanba Township (三坝乡) in Shangri-La (香格里拉), and the Mosuo people’s (摩梭人) Goddess Mountain Festival (祭干木女神山) in Yongning (永宁).

Architectural Highlights in the Naxi Village

The Naxi Ethnic Minority Village in Yunnan Ethnic Villages covers an area of 49.5 mu (about 8.2 acres). At the village entrance, visitors are greeted by a statue of the Naxi protector deity, Sanduo (三朵), along with a large relief wall depicting scenes from the Creation of the World (创世纪).

The village's architectural features reflect the traditional Naxi building style. Key structures include:

• Three Rooms and One Wall Screen Pavilion (三坊一照壁雅阁), a symbol of Naxi courtyard-style homes with colorful paintings and intricate wooden carvings.
• Residential Courtyard (民居院), showcasing traditional Naxi living spaces.
• Flower Horse Pavilion (花马坊), highlighting the Naxi culture's connection with horse trading.
• Craft Building (工艺楼), a representation of Naxi craftsmanship.
• Corridor Houses (廊房), illustrating traditional Naxi residential architecture.

At the center of the village is the Sifang Street (四方街), a square enclosed by these key buildings, vividly demonstrating the architectural elegance and unique structural style of the Naxi ethnic group.

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