Yu Jiahua

Yunan Normal university

The political, economic, cultural and marriage relationships and influences among Tusi (tribal chiefs) is an important issue in the area of ethnic study. This paper is a case study on the relationship between two Tusi in southwest China: the Mu family in Lijiang and Yao family in Yaoan in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

According to The Family Tree of the Gao written in Chongzheng period in the Ming Dynasty and The Genealogical Chronicle of the Mu Family written in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, during two hundred years from 1488 to1745, six generations of the Gao family such as Gao Feng were married with the Mu Tusi’s daughters and nieces, while two generations of the Mu Tusi such as the Mu Zhong were married with the daughters of the Gao Tusi. Eight generations’ marriages between two families helped them to establish a close relationship, and they supported each other.

During the long interaction and communication, the two families shared the similar values. For example, The Gao Family Precepts mentioned the rules of “be loyal to the sovereign and honor one’s parents”，while the Mu family taught their children to “be loyal to the sovereign and respect ancestors”. These values are good for local security and ethnic unity, and also good for forming and developing patriotism.

Both families were interested in learning cultures of their neighbor groups，especially the Han culture. Some members of both families could skillfully write Chinese poems and had made a great achievement. The Mu family members were good at writing Chinese poems, and published more than ten poems anthologies such as Poetry Anthology of the Snow Mountain. The Gao family was famous for writing chronicles and academic books, and published several books such as Chronicles of Jizu Mountain. The achievements of both families have richened the culture of the Chinese nation.

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Ye lha bhar

Tibetan Language and Literature Department, Northwest University for Nationalities

Among the Himalayan nations, Tibetans and Naxi have their own respective, rich cultural heritages. The relationship between these two nationalities’ history and culture is considered an important chapter of the history and culture of China’s southwest nationalities. At the same time, both play important roles in the overall history of China. From the analysis of archaeological remains discovered amongst rock coffin burial sites as well as Tibetan, Chinese and Naxi language historical documents, also language and anthropological records, there is evidence that these two nationalities originate from one root. They are as such, two branches. We can say that Tibetans and Naxi were close relatives. The original Naxi are a combination of local groups and descendants of the early Qiang Tibantans who migrated to the Zhengchuan area during the Chunqiu Zhanguo period. In addition, they brought their Bon religion to the new areas they came to inhabit. As the tubo expanded their power into Naxi territories, the tubo emperors came to rule the naxi. With that, there were a tightly interwoven relationship between the Naxi and Tibetan fields of politics, culture, religion, and economic trading. Further, Naxi tradition was influenced by Tibetan cultural and religious practices. Although Naxi culture greatly transformed after its migration south, it still retained much of its original identity. Meanwhile, it is also a mixed culture due to friendly interaction and exchange with Tibetans.

Wile scholars debate the relationship between Tibetans and Naxi, most of their arguments are based on Chinese historical records and early historians’ accounts and there have been no academic papers to date compiled on the basis of Tibetan historical records. There are scattered documents in the Tibetan archives describing the complex relationship between Tibetans and Naxi but more research based on pieces concerning the relationship between the politics and culture of Tibetans and Naxi is necessary. Using contemporary anthropological techniques, it is academically of prime significance to discuss cultural change, linguistic interrelationships and the influence of religion between the two.

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Hu Wenming   Lijiang Party School

Pumi and Naxi are two ethnic groups that have a long history and rich culture, distributing at the crossing boarders of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet. In the ancient Chinese history books, Pumi ancestors were called Xifan(西蕃or西番), and Naxi ancestors Muosuo(摩梭) or Mexie(么些). After new China was founded, the names Xifan and Mexie weren’t used any longer through the national recognition. According to the principle ‘name follows master’, unity legal national names were used since then, namely, Pumi and Naxi. Pumi and Naxi lived next to each other, even mixed together in the long history. They have close connection in politics and economy, they have been sharing many commons in religion colture. Therefore, a state of culture and society mixture Pumi and Naxi was formed. Obviously, the study of the historical relationship of the two ethnic groups is an important theme topic for both Pumi and Naxi. Unfortunately, from home and abroad, the study on this topic is not wide enough, nor deep, systematic, and the study development is rather slow. Thus, it is very necessary to do further exploration and study. This paper tries to analyse and study this relationship by the of applying multi-subject and different approaches, which leads to the writer’s systematic recognition and view on the topic, what’s more, it figures out a general picture of the historical relationship between Pumi and Naxi. The paper will discuss it from the following aspects.

1. the relationship of the national source

1.1      the folk legend and the relationship of the two ethnic groups

1.2      the relationship between Xi Qiang and the two ethnic groups

1.2.1        Hehuang Qiang and the source of the two ethnic groups

1.2.2        Maoniu(Yak) Qiang and the source of the two ethnic groups

1.2.3        Bailangge( the song of the white wolf) and the source of the two ethnic groups

2. the political relationship in the history

2.1      the political relationship of the two ethnic groups in Tang and Song Dynasty

2.2      the political relationship of the two ethnic groups in Ming and Qing Dynasty

3. the relationship on the religion culture

3.1      the relationship between Hangui religion and Dongba religion

3.2      the relationship between Tibetan Buddhism and the two ethnic groups

4. the influence and mixture of the two ethnic groups

4.1      the mixture of culture

4.2      the mixture of Pumi and Naxi in different regions

4.2.1        the mixture in the southwestern area of Sichuan

4.2.2        the mixture in the northwestern area of Yunan

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