Village of Pumi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Kunming
Introduction to the Pumi Ethnic Minority
The Pumi ethnic minority (普米族) is a unique group in Yunnan Province (云南省), with a population of approximately 42,000. They are descendants of the ancient Di-Qiang (氐羌) tribes and primarily engage in agriculture and animal husbandry. The Pumi people mainly reside in the northwestern part of Yunnan, particularly in the counties of Lanping (兰坪), Ninglang (宁蒗), Lijiang (丽江), Weixi (维西), and Yongsheng (永胜).
The Pumi people have a rich cultural heritage, with flourishing folk arts, including exquisite singing and dancing. A significant ceremony, known as the “Cheng Ding Li” (成丁礼), is held for children when they reach the age of 13 to mark their coming of age. They possess their own language and also use Chinese (汉文) for communication. The Pumi people follow Tibetan Buddhism, and their lamas and shamans (韩规) often compose scriptures in Tibetan.
Cultural Festivals and Traditions
The main traditional festivals of the Pumi ethnic minority include the Spring Festival (大过年), the Great Fifteenth Festival (大十五节), the Rock Cave Festival (绕岩洞), the Mountain Pilgrimage Festival (转山会), and the Tasting New Rice Festival (尝新节).
Among these, the Spring Festival (大过年) is the most important and grandest celebration, typically lasting three days to half a month. In Ninglang, the New Year is celebrated on the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, while in Lanping and Weixi, the Spring Festival is celebrated during the first month of the lunar calendar.
The Great Fifteenth Festival (大十五节) is a traditional festival for the Pumi people in Ninglang, celebrated on the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. During this time, people dress in bright new clothes, camp in the mountains, and hold bonfire parties. The following day, they pray for blessings around the “Mani pile” (玛尼堆), where young men and women joyfully sing, dance, and flirt with one another.
Architectural Features of the Pumi Ethnic Village
The Village of Pumi Ethnic Minority (普米族寨) in Yunnan Ethnic Village features typical “Duomu” (垛木) double-decker wooden houses and sloping-roofed flat houses. The village is arranged in a courtyard style, reflecting traditional folk architectural methods.
A local beverage, known as “Suli Ma” (酥里玛酒), is brewed using barley and traditional methods, earning the reputation of “local beer.” The western part of the village showcases the charming atmosphere of the “Suli Ma workshop,” where this unique beverage is produced.
The Village of Pumi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Ethnic Villages offers a vivid glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Pumi people. Through their festivals, artistic expressions, and distinctive architectural styles, the Pumi ethnic minority continues to thrive and preserve their unique identity in the vibrant tapestry of Yunnan Province.
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