Description: As one of 56 nationalities of China, Naxi nationality (纳西族) mostly settle down in Lijiang city in the northwest of Yunnan province. According to the census in 2000, Naxi nationality takes up an population of 308,839.
Language: Naxi language belongs to the branch of Tibeto-Burman under the family of Sino-Tibetan.
Religion: Dongba religion reflect greatly the on the social life, national spirit and cultural custom, which is viewed as the mainstay of Naxi nationality. The main belief of Dongba religion is that the nature is the brother of human.
Buddhism was introduced into Naxi nationality in the begin of Yuan Dynasty from Tibet. It developed quickly in the early period of Qing Dynasty. Taoism was introduced into Lijiang in the Ming Dynasty.
Clothing Character: Naxi men wear similar with local Han people. Women clothing is various according to the different regions. Naxi women are dressed on wide coat over the knee, going with a wool cape and pleated skirt. They prefer wearing earring and bangle made of gold, silver and jade. Corset worn in festivals is very delicate. It is a three-feet long and two-inch wide cotton tape, patterned with chrysanthemum and two dragons playing with a pearl.
Food Culture: Naxi nationality takes three meals a day. Generally, they take steamed bun or baba as breakfast. Lunch and dinner are more abundant. Steamed duck with cordyceps sinesnsis, Pui hens, gastrodia chicken, etc. are famous dish in local. Preserved pork can be kept for over ten years.
Festivals: Heaven worship is the largest traditional festival of Naxi nationality, held in the first month of the lunar year.
The Spring Festival is the same as Han nationality. They often held activities to ring out the Old Year and ring in the New Year.
Bangbang Festival is the traditional festival held on the 15th, lunar January. It delicates the end of the Spring Festival and the start of the spring plouging.
Sanduo Festival was certified as the traditional festival of Naxi nationality in 1987, which is held on the 8th, the lunar February. “Sanduo” is the lord protector of the whole Naxi nationality.
Add On: Shui Nationality
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