Naha Hani Earthen Houses in Mojiang County, Puer
Chinese Name: 墨江县那哈乡哈尼土掌房
English Name: Naha Hani Earthen Houses in Mojiang County, Puer
Traditional Hani Cuisine and Customs
The Hani people primarily eat rice, and in villages with limited farmland, they mix in some other grains. The Hani enjoy tobacco and alcohol, with nearly every household growing their own tobacco and brewing homemade liquor. During festivals, they like to eat sticky rice and steamed rice cakes. A special dish called “Baiwang” is prepared from raw blood mixed with finely chopped lean meat and various seasonings. Its absence at the table would displease elders or guests. After meals, they enjoy strong tea, and most men prefer smoking with a water pipe.
Traditional Housing Structures
Hani villages are typically built on hillsides or gentle slopes, surrounded by lush forests and year-round flowing streams. Historically, houses were either “chicken coop” houses or earthen houses. Chicken coop houses have walls made from rammed earth or bamboo fences and thatched roofs. The main building usually includes a central hall and two bedrooms: the central hall for family deities and storage, the eastern room for elders, and the western room for the younger generation. A bamboo loft is used for storing grain and occasionally as guest accommodation. Earthen houses use sturdy chestnut tree columns, walls made from a mixture of grass stalks, earth, and crushed stone, and roofs constructed with beams covered with logs and firewood, all packed with soil. The layout is similar to the chicken coop houses. Typically, an earthen house is built beside the main house, with a hearth for cooking, hosting guests, and storing farm tools.
Evolution of Housing
Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, brick and wood houses with tiled roofs have gradually replaced grass and earthen houses, with some even being replaced by concrete and steel structures.
Architectural Details
The traditional Hani earthen house features a “品” (pin) shape, with the top “口” (kou) representing the main house. It is divided into three large rooms on two floors. The lower floor includes rooms for elders and adults, while the central room serves as the main hall, with an altar and ancestral shrine. The two “口” sections below are the side rooms of the main house, connected by a square skylight for lighting and ventilation. One side room serves as the kitchen, while the other is used for storing firewood and miscellaneous items.
Cultural Practices
After completing the earthen house, the Hani invite a “mopi” to clean the house and pray for protection from disasters, selecting a day with the tiger sign. Moving day is chosen based on the owner’s zodiac sign, and the interior is sprinkled with buckwheat flour, millet, and broken iron pot shards, swept out with a broom made of white tree leaves or cypress leaves. On moving day, the homeowner carries a basket of cooked rice and leads the way with a torch, followed by others carrying chopsticks, salt, oil, buckwheat, wheat, and other grains, symbolizing prosperity. Friends and family then celebrate with singing and dancing.
Cultural Significance
The earthen house remains a vital part of Hani tradition, embodying significant cultural values. It is an important artifact for studying Hani history, culture, customs, architecture, and social structure, and was listed as an intangible cultural heritage in Puer City in 2005.
Location and Historical Context
Location: Mengga Village, Naha Township, Mojiang Hani Autonomous County
Construction Period: Started in the mid-Qing Dynasty
Visitors interested in learning more about these traditional Hani earthen houses, which date back to the mid-Qing Dynasty, are welcome to visit Mengga Village in Mojiang Hani Autonomous County, Puer, Yunnan.
Scenic View and Village Layout
Standing on a hill, you can view Shuikui Village, with dense dragon bamboo swaying gracefully, concealing rows of houses in varying heights. In the bright sun, they appear as golden castles, peaceful, serene, and harmonious, with an imposing presence. This is the traditional Hani residential architecture of Mojiang County — the earthen house.
Historical Development
The Mojiang Hani earthen houses were first built in the fourth year of the Yuan Dynasty (元宪宗四年). These houses reflect the traditional beliefs of the Hani people, who believe in the protection of village deities and the assistance of villagers. They prefer to live in crowded villages rather than isolated households, leading to dense settlements with a layered appearance.
Hani Villages and Environmental Harmony
Hani people often build their villages at elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 meters, on sunny, open, and cool mountain ridges or slopes with spring water. They value harmonious coexistence with nature, preserving large tracts of forest at the village edge or near water sources, known as “dragon forests,” which cannot be randomly cut down. The village is surrounded by lush ancient forests or shrub-covered hills, with terraced fields in the foreground and rugged mountain paths around the village. Surrounding the village are palm trees, bamboo, and fruit trees like pears, plums, peaches, and persimmons.
Spatial Layout of Earthen Houses
The spatial layout of earthen houses is rational, typically consisting of a main house and side rooms. The main house often has a raised floor, with the lower floor usually around 2.5 meters high, which helps to reduce heat loss and maintain room temperature, making it warm in winter and cool in summer. The side rooms do not have elevated floors and feature a central opening for ventilation and light.
Cultural Practices in Housing
After completing the earthen house, the Hani will invite a “mopi” to clean the house and pray for protection from disasters, choosing a day with the tiger sign. Moving day is selected based on the owner’s zodiac sign, and the interior is sprinkled with buckwheat flour, millet, and broken iron pot shards, swept out with a broom made of white tree leaves or cypress leaves. On moving day, the homeowner carries a basket of cooked rice and leads the way with a torch, followed by others carrying chopsticks, salt, oil, buckwheat, wheat, and other grains, symbolizing prosperity. Friends and family then celebrate with singing and dancing.
Preservation and Importance
The earthen houses have stood the test of time, maintaining their significance in Hani culture. They are crucial for studying Hani history, culture, customs, architecture, and social structure. The earthen houses are among the most concentrated and well-preserved examples in Mojiang and Puer City.
Additional Locations
Location: Mengga Village, Niu Hong Village Committee, Liuzhu Town, Mojiang County
Mojiang Hani Autonomous County is the only Hani autonomous county in the country, known as the “Hani Homeland.” Mengga earthen houses are a key part of discussions on Hani culture and traditional residential architecture.
Location: Dazhai Village, Kuineng Village Committee, Liuzhu Town, Mojiang County
Dazhai Village is the most concentrated village of the Hani Maoni (Budou) branch and is listed as one of China’s traditional villages. The village retains many typical Hani earthen houses, integrated into the natural landscape of forests, terraced fields, and rivers, showcasing a harmonious Hani landscape.
