Bai Ethnic Minority

The Bai people are the 15th largest ethnic minority in China, primarily residing in the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Sichuan. The largest concentration of the Bai population is in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州) in Yunnan Province. There are also smaller communities in places like Sichuan and Chongqing.

The Bai language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family, within the Tibeto-Burman subgroup. Chinese characters have long been used by the Bai people for writing. The Bai people are renowned for their distinctive arts, including architecture, sculpture, and painting, which are recognized both domestically and internationally. Over time, they have interacted with neighboring ethnic groups, developing a rich and vibrant culture.

The Bai people are a highly concentrated ethnic group, with three primary subgroups: Minjia (民家), Lemo (勒墨), and Nama (那马), and they are heavily influenced by Han Chinese culture.

According to the 2021 China Statistical Yearbook, the Bai population totals 2,091,543, with 1,054,892 men and 1,036,651 women.

Name and Self-Identification

The Bai people self-identify as “Bai Zi” (白子), “Bai Ni” (白尼), or “Bai Huo” (白伙), commonly referred to as “Bai Ren” (白人). Historically, the Han Chinese called them “Minjia” (民家) to differentiate them from “Junjia” (军家), and during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, they were known as “Bairen” (白人) or “Boni” (僰人). In the Naxi language, they are referred to as “Lebu” (勒布) or “Nama” (那马), in Lisu as “Lemo” (勒墨), in Tibetan as “Lebpo” (勒波), and in Yi as “Loupu” (娄哺), “Luoben” (洛本), or “Luojipo” (罗基颇). In Guizhou Province, they are also called “Qixingmin” (七姓民), “Jiuxingzu” (九姓族), “Luojia” (罗苴), and “Longjiangren” (龙江人), among others. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, in 1956, the name “Bai Zu” (白族) was officially adopted as the unified ethnic designation.

History

Origins

The Bai (白族) ethnic group belongs to the Dì-Qiāng (氐羌) system and has a diverse origin. One significant source of the Bai people comes from the indigenous inhabitants who lived around Erhai Lake (洱海) and Kunming (昆明). According to Sima Qian’s “Records of the Grand Historian” (《史记·西南夷列传》), it was mentioned that the people from the area west of Tongshi (today’s Baoshan, 保山), extending to Ye Yu (叶榆), also known as Erhai region, were called the “Xī” and “Kunming,” living in a migratory society and engaging in activities like livestock herding.

Another important source of the Bai people can be traced to the Southern migration of the Di-Qiang tribes from the pre-Qin period, originating from the Bo people (僰人). These early people were mentioned in texts such as the “Lüshi Chunqiu” (吕氏春秋) by the Qin Chancellor Lü Buwei, describing the Southern Di-Qiang people and their interaction with neighboring tribes. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Bo people were widespread, covering large regions around the Sichuan-Yunnan borders, including areas like the Yunnan kingdom (滇国), which was dominated by the Bo people, also called “Dian-Bo” (滇僰).

During the Jin and Han periods, the populations from the Erhai region were a mixture of the Bo people, the Ailao (哀牢), and other ethnicities. These ethnic groups, especially during the Tang dynasty, started consolidating into the Bai ethnic community. This evolution reached a peak in the 8th century, during the Nanzhao kingdom (南诏) period, when the Bai identity was clearly formed.

Cultural Origins

The Bai people’s culture is ancient, with archaeological sites like the Cang Erhai Site (苍洱遗址) revealing a deep connection to the northern Chinese cultures, particularly the Yangshao and Longshan cultures (仰韶、龙山文化). Objects found in these sites, such as the double-hole crescent-shaped stone knives, show the mixture of Central Plains (中原) culture with local Erhai culture. These tools were more advanced than those from other regions and helped define the Bai people’s early developments in agriculture and textile production.

Pre-Qin Period

In the Spring and Autumn period, the Southwestern Yi tribes maintained strong ties with the states of Qin (秦) and Chu (楚), and during the Warring States period, their interactions deepened. The Bai people retained influences from these states, which is still evident in their culture today. The connection to Han culture became prominent after the Qin dynasty, as the central government began to establish its authority over the Southwestern tribes, including those in the Erhai area.

The Qin government built roads and set up administrative regions like the Yeyu, Yunnan, and Bisu, connecting Erhai to the central plains. The construction of the “Five-foot Road” (五尺道) from Sichuan to the Erhai region was one of the first major infrastructural links, contributing to the integration of the Bai people with the broader Han Chinese world.

Han and Tang Periods

During the Han dynasty, the region saw significant interactions between the Han people and the native Bai people. The Han Empire attempted to control the region and establish settlements, despite resistance from the local “Kunming” and “Mian” tribes. By the Tang dynasty, as the central government expanded, the Bai people began to consolidate their identity, with the formation of the Nanzhao Kingdom, a significant political entity that would later lead to the establishment of the Dali Kingdom.

The Nanzhao Kingdom

The Nanzhao kingdom (南诏) was established by the Bai and Yi tribes. It emerged as a powerful state centered around the Erhai region. The kingdom was notable for its military and political rivalry with the Tang Dynasty, especially during the rise of the Six Zhaos (六诏), with the Mengshe Zhao (蒙舍诏) tribe controlling the region with Tang support. Nanzhao grew stronger and played a key role in regional politics, asserting control over trade routes and influencing the cultural landscape. The Bai ethnic identity became clearer during this period.

Dali Kingdom Period

In the 9th century, after the decline of the Nanzhao, the Bai people established the Dali Kingdom (大理国), with the ruling Duan clan (段氏) as the central figure. Dali was an influential kingdom with strong ties to Central China, connected by the ancient Tea Horse Road (茶马古道) and Southern Silk Road (南方丝绸之路). This period saw the flourishing of Bai culture, especially with the integration of Confucianism and Buddhism, and the development of local arts, textiles, and trade.

The Dali Kingdom was a prosperous period for the Bai people, marked by advances in agriculture, metallurgy, and craftsmanship. The famous Dali horses (大理马) and the local steelwork, such as the “Duojian” (铎矟) and “Langqiong Sword” (浪穹剑), gained recognition across China.

Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties

In the Yuan dynasty (元代), after the Mongol invasion, the Dali Kingdom fell, and the region became part of the larger Mongol Empire. The Yuan and Ming dynasties continued to establish a military and administrative presence in the Dali region. However, the Bai people maintained a distinct cultural identity and continued to exert influence over local trade and agriculture.

During the Ming dynasty (明代), the Bai people were increasingly integrated into the imperial system, with various policies reinforcing the feudal structure. The Bai people experienced both oppression and cultural flourishing under the Ming and Qing (清) dynasties. Many Bai intellectuals emerged during this period, contributing to the region’s rich cultural heritage.

Modern and Contemporary History

In the 20th century, the Bai people experienced significant political upheaval, especially under the pressures of imperialism and feudal oppression. The region was involved in multiple uprisings and revolutions, such as the Li Wenxue Rebellion (李文学起义) and the Du Wenxiu Rebellion (杜文秀起义), where the Bai people fought alongside other ethnic groups against foreign domination.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Bai people saw improvements in their political and economic status, with land reforms and the establishment of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州). In 1956, the Bai ethnicity was officially recognized by the Chinese government, and their cultural identity has since been promoted.

The Bai in Modern China

Today, the Bai people continue to thrive in their native regions, balancing traditional practices with modern development. However, the Bai face challenges in cultural preservation and generational changes in the face of rapid modernization. Efforts are being made to ensure the continued survival of Bai traditions, language, and customs amidst China’s national transformation.

Population Breakdown

The table below provides a breakdown of the Bai ethnic population across various regions in China, as well as their proportion in relation to the total population and the overall ethnic minority population in each region.

Rank Region Total Population Bai Ethnic Population Proportion of Bai Population (%) Proportion of Minority Population (%) Proportion of Total Population (%)
1 Yunnan (云南) 42,360,089 1,505,644 80.87 10.63 3.55
2 Guizhou (贵州) 35,247,695 187,362 10.06 1.41 0.53
3 Hunan (湖南) 63,274,173 125,597 6.75 1.96 0.20
4 Sichuan (四川) 82,348,296 7,335 0.39 0.18 0.01
5 Hubei (湖北) 59,508,870 7,173 0.39 0.28 0.01
6 Guangdong (广东) 85,225,007 5,905 0.32 0.47 0.01
7 Zhejiang (浙江) 45,930,651 2,659 0.14 0.67 0.01
8 Shandong (山东) 89,971,789 2,405 0.13 0.38 0.00
9 Jiangsu (江苏) 73,043,577 2,300 0.12 0.89 0.00
10 Beijing (北京) 13,569,194 1,554 0.08 0.27 0.01
11 Chongqing (重庆) 30,512,763 1,140 0.06 0.06 0.00
12 Hebei (河北) 66,684,419 946 0.05 0.03 0.00
13 Henan (河南) 91,236,854 946 0.05 0.08 0.00
14 Guangxi (广西) 43,854,538 831 0.05 0.01 0.00
15 Anhui (安徽) 58,999,948 761 0.04 0.19 0.00
16 Tibet (西藏) 2,616,329 722 0.04 0.03 0.03
17 Fujian (福建) 34,097,947 608 0.03 0.10 0.00
18 Shanghai (上海) 16,407,734 506 0.03 0.49 0.00
19 Liaoning (辽宁) 41,824,412 449 0.02 0.01 0.00
20 Xinjiang (新疆) 18,459,511 409 0.02 0.00 0.00
21 Shanxi (山西) 32,471,242 353 0.02 0.34 0.00
22 Shaanxi (陕西) 35,365,072 338 0.02 0.19 0.00
23 Jiangxi (江西) 40,397,598 337 0.02 0.27 0.00
24 Jilin (吉林) 26,802,191 298 0.02 0.01 0.00
25 Heilongjiang (黑龙江) 36,237,576 278 0.02 0.02 0.00
26 Gansu (甘肃) 25,124,282 272 0.02 0.01 0.00
27 Inner Mongolia (内蒙) 23,323,347 248 0.01 0.01 0.00
28 Qinghai (青海) 4,822,963 242 0.01 0.01 0.01
29 Hainan (海南) 7,559,035 222 0.01 0.02 0.00
30 Tianjin (天津) 9,848,731 184 0.01 0.07 0.00
31 Ningxia (宁夏) 5,486,393 39 0.00 0.00 0.00
Other Active Military Personnel 2,504,022 3,832 0.21 3.27 0.15