Yang Fuquan, YASS

The concept about “Black” and “white” is a cultural phenomena among the ethnic groups of Tibeto-Burman language family including Naxi，Qiang、Tibetan，and Yi as well as the other ethnic groups inhabiting in the surrounding Himalayan area. Some researchers have put much efforts to study the meanings of “White” and “Black” related to the terms of address of the various ethnic groups with much debate. This paper, based on rich information from author’s fieldwork, ethnographic materials and religious and historic records, has made deep and extensive study on the concept of Black and White. It points out that the Naxi and Na ethnic groups worship to White and taboo from Black which reflected in their religion and folk custom, the term “Na”(Black) contain in the address of ethnic groups among Naxi, Na, Nari, Nahai and Namuyi etc. is still a term which must be deeply studied for its real meaning. No matter whether the term Na related to the meanings of Black, huge, big, large, it has nothing to do with so-called“worship to Black. The paper also have significance to go deep to the concept about Black and White of Yi Ethnic Group which have much scholarly debate as well as the concept about color among the ethnic groups of T Tibeto-Burman language family.

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Dalie Guo  Yun nan Academy of Social Sciences

Since 1907 when J.Bacot, the first French scholar who studied the Naxi culture , had published his book entitled  “ Les Mosso” , more than 100 years past. During the 100 years, around 1000 scholars have published more than 3000 articles or books related to the Naxi. After Lijiang Old Town has been inscribed on the list of World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1997, the main residents of the heritage site– Naxi and its culture, gets more attention by the world.  There are more international cultural exchanges, and more young scholars from domestic and abroad countries have involved themselves in the study of Naxiology, that brings a new trend for Naxiology :

1. a study that insists on the ideology of “man- centered”, promotes sustainable development, properly manages the relation between culture preservation and tourism development and promotes “Lijiang model” heritage site preservation;

2. a study that constructs harmonious culture, supports public culture affairs, supports succession of ethnic culture, simultaneously  encourages culture invention and promotes ethnic culture industries;

3. translated 100 volumes of Dongba ancient manuscripts in order to rescue this endangered culture, simultaneously strengthen the study of Dongba pictograms and Dongba culture;

4. a study on the social history by taking the Mu Clan of Naxi and Tea Horse Road as its main theme, simultaneously some related seminars have been held;

5. a study on the relation between varied ethnic groups on the border of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet by taking Naxi and Tibetan relation as its main theme;

6. a new assessment to Naxi social and historical culture from political and juristic culture perspective;

7. a international study on ethnic groups related to “ Na” and their marriage system on the border of  Yunnan and Sichuan;

8. a systematic study on the literature and arts by taking Dongba myth and Naxi music as its main theme;

9. a study on research groups, discipline construction and science history;

10. a study on varied international co-operations and their related achievements.

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Anna Fäldt, Sweeden

This is a study based on interviews made with wise women and men among the Naxi people in south west China in 2006. The work of people similar to the ancient “sani” among the Naxi people is compared to practices used within shamanism. The study is based  on the situation now in modern times.

Purpose: To study to the sani and the Naxi people. To give an introduction to shamanism. To play down the mystic about spiritual matters and reveal a non physical world, real however not to all people. To see similarities and differences, features.

For shamanism the FSS (The Foundation for Shamanistic Studies) definition of core shamanism will be used. Researcher and anthropologist Michael Harner and his background will be mentioned, as well as other sources. Reference to work of Joseph Rock regarding his work with the wise Llubu-sani-pa of the Naxi people.  Specially portraying three women from Lijiang, Baidi and Yongning respectively.

Who are they? Background, beginning and situation of the individual. How did it start?  Naxi often had illness. Shamans are sometimes called “wounded healers” and have undergone traumatic experiences. Often they have spontaneous clairvoyant abilities all the time from childhood.

What are they doing? Healing treatments, psycho pomp work. Methods. Divination, precognition, search for information.

Why do they involve in these activities? What is the purpose with this activities. Help people in need. Help spirits of dead people. Help relatives and friends to deceased people. How are activities performed and with whom do they communicate? Methods of communication. Communication techniques. When and where are activities performed. When there is a need. When asked for. Education, courses. Situation of the individual, environment of activity. Role in society. Usually other ordinary job. Seldom full-time work with this. Known locally in the village and on distance by roamers. Urban shaman found on the Internet.

Conclusion: Interesting similarities and differences. Going deep enough and to see whether there are more that unites than what is separating?

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