On the Statelets between Nanzhao and the Dali Kingdom
After the demise of Nanzhao 南诏, the Buddhist kingdom that integrated the tribes of the Erhai region in the second half of the first millennium, local strongmen proclaimed a succession of short-lived statelets before Duan Siping 段思平 in 937 CE established the Dali Kingdom 大理国.
The watermills in Fengqing's Gumo village operate just like a thousand years ago.
Fei Hsiao-Tung and Chang Chih-I: Earthbound China: A Study of Rural Economy in Yunnan
Fei is the father of modern sociology in China: western-trained, he came to Yunnan at the end of the 1930s when China's eastern universities relocated west. In "Earthbound China" he applied modern empirical techniques that he had pioneered around Shanghai to the Chinese hinterland. The economical development, and subsequent societal changes, of three un-named, but typical villages in Yunnan is analyzed in great detail in this fascinating study.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Extremely beautiful Wenchang Temple, created in part by national level Intangible Cultural Heritage transmitter Li Yunyi.
C. Patterson Giersch: Asian Borderlands: The Transformation of Qing China's Yunnan Frontier
Yunnan was not always China: indeed not so long ago large parts of Yunnan were only nominally part of the empire. To make Yunnan, outside the main Han cities, a Chinese province required significant effort. Here Giersch's study on Yunnan's hinterland makes an interesting if academic read.
An ancient Bai folk play form, preserved in Yunlong county.
This old caravan town on the Jinsha River is Yunnan's gateway to Tibet.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Yu An Ceremonies | 07 Jun |
| Raosanling | 07 Jun |
| Start of Raosanling | 07 Jun |
| Raosanling | 08 Jun |
| Benzhu Worship | 08 Jun |
| Raosanling in Heyicheng | 09 Jun |
| Praying For Rain | 10 Jun |
| Benzhu Worship | 10 Jun |
| Raosanling in Majiuyi | 10 Jun |
| Medicine Buddha Birthday | 13 Jun |
| Mango Festival | 15 Jun |
| Kuzhazha | 15 Jun |
Markets this Sunday
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Duomei | 朵美 |
| Jiuzhou | 旧州 |
| Junhua | 均化 |
| Sanying | 三营 |
| Shuixie | 水泄 |
| Yunlong | 云龙县 |
| Binchuan | 宾川县 |
| Beitou | 北头 |
| Liantie | 炼铁 |
| Liuhe | 六合 |
| Heqing | 鹤庆县 |
| Lawu | 拉乌 |
| Zuòyì | 作邑 |
| Changxin | 长新 |
| Jianchuan | 剑川县 |
| Eryuan | 洱源县 |
| Gonglang | 公郎镇 |
| Pingpo | 平坡 |
| Midian | 米甸镇 |
| 西庄 | |
| 云南驿村 | |
| 寅街村 | |
| Minjian | 民建乡 |
| 青苗 | |
| Beiya | 北衙 |
| Niujie | 牛街彝族乡 |
| 前所 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Pingbian | 屏边苗族自治县 |
| Diema | 垤玛 |
| Mengzi | 蒙自县 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Lvchun | 绿春县 |
| Majie | 马街 |
| Chake | 岔科 |
| Jiayin | 甲寅 |
| Azhahe | 阿扎河 |
| Longwu | 龙武镇 |
| Liangdi | 浪堤 |
| Xinjie | 新街 |
| Baohua | 宝华 |
| Nanke | 南科 |
| Luoen | 洛恩 |
| Jinping | 金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县 |
| Yongning | 永宁乡 |
| Mengqiao | 勐桥乡 |
| Laomeng | 老勐 |
| Wenshan | 文山 |
|---|---|
| Pingzhai | 平寨乡 |
| Guangnan | 广南县 |
| Pingyuan | 平远 |
| Zhesang | 者桑乡 |
| Banggu | 蚌谷乡 |
| Muyang | 木央镇 |
| Babao | 八宝镇 |
| Nanping (Majie) | 南屏镇 (马街） |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Shuanghe | 双河 |