Muzha Village of Xiyang Town in Jinning District, Kunming
木鲊村 (Muzha Village) is located in the 夕阳彝族乡 (Xiyang Yi Ethnic Township) of 晋宁县 (Jinning District), 昆明 (Kunming), Yunnan Province. It is situated in the northern part of Xiyang Township, approximately 17 kilometers from the township government. The road to the township is a dirt road, making transportation inconvenient, and the village is 77 kilometers from the county seat. It borders 安宁市 (Anning City) to the east, 木杵榔村委会 (Muchulang Village Committee) to the south, and 易门县 (Yimen County) to the west and north. The village sits at an elevation of 1,592 meters, with an average annual temperature of 18°C and annual precipitation of 900 millimeters.
Basic Introduction
The ancestors of Muzha Village migrated from the 昭通地区 (Zhaotong area) to the 滇池地区 (Dianchi area). During the Yuan (元) and Ming (明) Dynasties, a significant influx of Han Chinese settled in the region, leading to the saying “汉到夷走” (Han people go to the Yi). Their descendants moved from the Dianchi area to settle in the mountainous regions at the borders of 晋宁 (Jinning), 玉溪 (Yuxi), and 易门 (Yimen). The village covers an area of 17.04 square kilometers, with a residential area of 168 acres and a permanent population of 295 people. The primary industries with high output value are tobacco, sunflower seeds, and glutinous rice, while agriculture remains the traditional industry of Muzha Village.
Traditional Village Architecture
Muzha Village is located on a hillside and was established during the Qing Dynasty (清代). It is one of the villages in Xiyang that preserves traditional 彝族 (Yi ethnic group) architecture well. The historical remains are concentrated, and the village’s historical landscape is well preserved, creating a pleasant living environment. The area is dominated by forests and farmland, with the surrounding natural environment being excellent. The village is built on the hillside, with residents arranged orderly, forming a crescent shape. The village features a main thoroughfare with side alleys, creating a two-tiered transportation system resembling a “fishbone” street pattern. The unique traditional elements of Muzha Village include cement roads, alleys, well entrances, ancient trees, and fields. The houses are primarily made of earth and wood, reflecting the typical Yi architecture of Xiyang Township. Overall, the traditional village has clear layers, a complete layout, and possesses high historical and aesthetic value.
The layout of traditional Yi residential buildings consists of square courtyards enclosed by earthen walls, with trees planted around the courtyard. The courtyard entrance features wooden frames and doors, with the housing having a gabled roof and low, wide doors. Small windows, each about 50 cm square, are present on either side of the door, and some houses do not have windows. The residences are generally modest in height, typically featuring three to four rooms and standard dimensions of 10–15 meters long and 5–6 meters wide, with eaves approximately 3.5 meters high. The buildings are primarily wooden, using logs for columns, beams, and crossbars, presenting a “tree” shaped roof frame, which reflects the original architectural aesthetic of the Yi people, closely tied to the mountains and forests.
The walls of these houses are either made of earth or wood, and the roofs are covered with 云杉木 (spruce wood), colloquially referred to as “椽子” (rafter). The rafters are covered with tiles, allowing rainwater to flow down the tile grooves, providing light and ventilation. Yi traditional houses are also known as “瓦房” (tiled houses). Entering such a house, the scent of cedar wood evokes the atmosphere of a primitive forest hunting lodge. Some ancient residences feature intricately carved wooden beams, dougong (bracket sets), decorative doors, and window lattices, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and complexity, representing fine examples of wood carving art.
Site Selection and Layout
The site selection of Muzha Village reflects an effective utilization of the natural environment, creating a suitable living environment and conserving non-renewable land resources. It integrates natural elements into the village, fulfilling the residents’ living and psychological needs while emphasizing environmental capacity and maintaining an appropriate settlement scale. The village layout harmonizes with the natural landscape, contouring the terrain, topography, and scenic waters. The concept of “天人合一” (the unity of man and nature) emphasizes the integral relationship between humans and nature, suggesting a close coexistence and mutual prosperity within Chinese culture. The spatial layout of the village reflects the idea of “形胜” (favorable terrain) and the land-use concept of “因地制宜” (adapting to local conditions), showcasing the influence of “天人合一” on village site selection, planning, and construction.
Spatially, the village is organized around ancient trees and small squares, creating a wide and comfortable atmosphere. The spatial structure of the village is shaped by the surrounding natural mountains and waters, forming a flexible and varied configuration. The overall layout of the village expresses the Chinese view of “天人感应” (the resonance between heaven and man), signifying how people attribute cultural meaning to the natural environment and settlements, thus meeting their psychological needs for a good living environment and achieving an organic unity between the village and its natural surroundings.
Historical Evolution
Before 1958, Muzha Village belonged to 昆阳县 (Kunyang County). In 1962, it was included in 易门县 (Yimen County), and after 1962, it became part of the 晋宁县夕阳公社 (Jinning Xiyang Commune). In 1983, it became an administrative village, was renamed 木鲊彝族乡 (Muzha Yi Ethnic Township) in 1984, was renamed 木鲊办事处 (Muzha Office) in 1987, and officially became the 木鲊村民委员会 (Muzha Village Committee) on March 1, 2000.
Honors and Rankings
In September 2020, the 云南省林业和草原局 (Yunnan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau) announced the first batch of provincial forest villages in Yunnan Province, and Muzha Village was included in the list.
In August 2013, Muzha Village was listed as part of the second batch of traditional villages in China.
Attractions and Notable Features
- Muzha Village (木鲊村)
- Xiyang Yi Ethnic Township (夕阳彝族乡)
- Kunming (昆明)
- Jinning District (晋宁县)
- Anning City (安宁市)
- Yimen County (易门县)
- Zhaotong area (昭通地区)
- Dianchi area (滇池地区)
Notable Quotes and Sayings:
- “一饭一粥来不易，半丝半缕力维艰。” (Every grain of rice and every drop of porridge is hard-earned; every thread and every inch of cloth comes with great effort.)
