The Bai in Early Chinese Minority Film
After Liberation in 1949 Chinese cinema became a propaganda medium for the New China. The 1950 saw cinemas spreading to all towns, showing movies meant to increase the socialist spirit and fostering national unit. China's ethnic minorities often featured in these films before the Cultural Revolution. Only after its end played ethnic minority themes a role again. Here we look at films from before 2000 that feature the Bai minority.
The temple in Mangdao 芒岛, built in 1899, is one of few surviving examples of Dai Buddhist temples having survived the Cultural Revolution by being converted into grain storage.
Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China
Even if Chinese civilization has developed more against than with nature, the Mao years were a particular exercise in environmental destruction. In one case-study Shapiro tells the story of the draining of the northern part of Dianchi Lake, one of the first steps turning Kunming's lake into the fetid cess-pool it is today.
A number of Chinese historic texts covering life and politics in Yunnan have survived over the centuries. I have translated a few of them.
Small Benzhu shrine, used for rituals on the third day of Raosanling.
Judith Shapiro: Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China
Even if Chinese civilization has developed more against than with nature, the Mao years were a particular exercise in environmental destruction. In one case-study Shapiro tells the story of the draining of the northern part of Dianchi Lake, one of the first steps turning Kunming's lake into the fetid cess-pool it is today.
Village Benzhu Temple.
The turn of the Yangzi made Chinese civilization possible and was the location of many important battles.
Upcoming Festivals
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Benzhu Worship | 19 Jul |
| Bai Yi New Year | 19 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 19 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship | 19 Jul |
| Sixth of June | 19 Jul |
| Waxberry Festival | 19 Jul |
| Wild Mushroom Trade Fair | 20 Jul |
| Lingshan Temple Fair | 21 Jul |
| Ongkor Festival | 23 Jul |
| Great Heat | 23 Jul |
| Benzhu Worship (Eryuan Area) | 25 Jul |
| Bai Yi New Year | 25 Jul |
Markets this Monday
| Kunming | 昆明 |
|---|---|
| Banqiao | 板桥乡 |
| Dali | 大理 |
|---|---|
| Biaocun | 表村 |
| Jizushan | 鸡足山 |
| Weishan | 巍山彝族回族自治县 |
| Fengyi | 凤仪 |
| Qinghua | 清华 |
| Wase | 挖色 |
| Misha | 弥沙 |
| Tuanjie | 团结 |
| Baishi | 白石 |
| Shaping | 沙平村 |
| Niujie | 牛街 |
| Dianzhong | 甸中 |
| Luming | 鹿鸣乡 |
| 田口 | |
| 妙姑村 | |
| 北桥 | |
| Puping | 普淜镇 |
| Hongyan | 红岩镇 |
| Hedian | 禾甸镇 |
| Miaowei | 苗尾傈僳族乡 |
| Taiping | 太平乡 |
| Shidongcun | 石洞村 |
| Honghe | 红河 |
|---|---|
| Shengcun | 生村 |
| Nafa | 那发 |
| Laozhai | 老寨苗族乡 |
| Sancun | 三村 |
| Chemalong | 车玛龙 |
| Jiache | 架车 |
| Puxiong | 普雄 |
| Zhongzhai | 中寨 |
| Baihe | 白河乡 |
| Baoshan | 保山市 |
|---|---|
| Manglong | 芒龙 |
| Lincang | 临沧 |
|---|---|
| Cangyuan | 沧源佤族自治县 |
| Shuangjiang | 双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县 |
| Quannei | 圈内 |
| Junsai | 军赛乡 |
| Zhenkang | 镇康县 |
| Zhaotong | 昭通 |
|---|---|
| Menggu | 蒙姑镇 |
| Yuxi | 玉溪 |
|---|---|
| Fuliangpeng | 富良棚 |
| Puer | 普洱 |
|---|---|
| Jiangcheng | 江城哈尼族彝族自治县 |
| Fuyan | 富岩 |
| Kangping | 康平乡 |
| Dehua | 德化镇 |
| Liming | 黎明乡 |
| 恩永 | |
| 把边 |