Village of Shui Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Ethnic Villages, Kunming
Introduction to the Shui Ethnic Minority (水族)
The Shui ethnic minority (水族) in Yunnan (云南) comprises approximately 9,000 people, primarily engaged in agriculture. They reside mainly in the ancient Gugan Shui Ethnic Township (古干水族乡) and Huangnihe Town (黄泥河镇) of Fuyuan County (富源县). The origins of the Shui people can be traced back to the ancient “Baiyue” (百越), developing from a branch of the “Luoyue” (罗越) ethnic group. In ancient times, they referred to themselves as “Sui,” which was transliterated into “Shui” in Mandarin, thus giving them their name. The Shui people have their own language but predominantly use Chinese in daily life. They also had an ancient calendar based on lunar phases, and the “Shui Book” (水书) is renowned as a living encyclopedia of folklore due to its long history. The Shui people firmly believe in a primitive religion that emphasizes that “all things have spirits and souls endure,” which is reflected in their tradition of placing “Tunkou” (屯口) masks at the entrances of their homes to ward off evil spirits and pray for peace and auspiciousness.
Architecture of Shui Ethnic Villages
The Shui Village (水族村) in the Yunnan Ethnic Village is built along the water’s edge and integrates farming tools into its scenery. The architecture predominantly features the traditional “street house” style of the representative wooden houses from Gugan Shui Ethnic Township (古干水族乡) in Fuyuan County (富源县). The layout includes scenic spots like the Bagua Wheel (八卦轮), Longtan (龙潭), and Dalong Tree (大龙树), showcasing the ancestral culture and unique characteristics of the Shui people.
The Duan Festival (端午节)
The Duan Festival (端午节) is the most widespread, widely celebrated, and longest-lasting festival among the Shui people, regarded as their grandest annual celebration. In 2006, the “Shui Duan Festival” (水族端午节) and the “Shui Mao Festival” (水族毛节) were listed as national-level and provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, respectively.
Traditional Clothing of the Shui Ethnic Minority
The Shui people’s clothing is characterized by elegant colors and meticulous tailoring, showcasing a beautiful silhouette. Shui culture and attire share close ties with the Zhuang ethnic group (壮族) of Yunnan, yet differ significantly from the Shui people in Guizhou (贵州).
Shui clothing is simple and vibrant, with a particular fondness for blue, white, and indigo colors, exuding an elegant charm. Traditionally, they wore short tops paired with long skirts, while modern attire typically features short tops with pants. Their clothing is crafted from hemp fabric, presenting a simple beauty akin to a landscape painting.
Women’s Clothing
Shui women (水族女性) wear a right-opening blouse secured with a left knot, adorned with lace along the edges and embroidered corner borders. The trousers are fitted at the waist and hips, flared at the legs, resembling bell-bottoms that accentuate the natural curves of Shui women.
Men’s Clothing
Shui men (水族男性) wear large-collared, collarless blue shirts, designed for ease of labor.
Traditional Shui Street Houses
The Shui Village (水族村) in Yunnan Ethnic Village (云南民族村) is constructed along the water’s edge, featuring farm tools arranged in artistic formations. It primarily showcases the traditional wooden houses from Gugan Shui Ethnic Township (古干水族乡). The village is surrounded by scenic spots like the Bagua Wheel (八卦轮), Longtan (龙潭), and Dalong Tree (大龙树), reflecting the ancestral customs and unique characteristics of Shui culture.
Typically, the main entrance of a Shui household features a wooden sculpture of a fierce-looking Tunkou mask (屯口面具), which symbolizes protection and the wish for family safety and happiness.
Shui street houses (水族街屋) are rich in ancient charm, usually comprising a main house and two side rooms in a courtyard layout. The layout separates living spaces for people and animals, ensuring full functionality. The main house features a gable roof, constructed from wood and stone, with one floor and a basement. The basement usually consists of three rooms: a central hall and living spaces with a kitchen on either side, allowing for independent yet interconnected living. The upper level is often used for grain storage.
Tongkou Dance: A Unique Traditional Dance (铜口舞)
The Tongkou Dance (铜口舞) is unique to the Gugan Shui people, referred to as “Langji Gen” (狼骑根) in their language, symbolizing divine protection. It is one of the traditional dance forms exclusive to the Shui people of Yunnan.
The dance uses the Shui people’s auspicious symbol—the Tunkou mask (屯口面具)—as a prop. The Tunkou mask, which features a human head with a fierce expression and a sword in its mouth, symbolizes the ability to drive away evil spirits.
The “Tongkou Dance” (铜口舞) features passionate and robust movements, with performers wielding the Tunkou mask to sweep the surroundings, drawing swords toward the heavens, showcasing a sense of divine power and martial beauty.
Culinary Delights: Niu Da Gun (牛打滚)
The Shui people have a long history of rice cultivation and primarily consume rice, with a particular fondness for glutinous rice. “Niu Da Gun” (牛打滚) is a traditional and representative glutinous rice snack of the Shui people.
The preparation and ingredients for “Niu Da Gun” (牛打滚) are simple, yet the taste is unique. The glutinous rice balls are rolled in bean flour, coating them entirely. The result is a chewy and fragrant delicacy. This method resembles water buffalo rolling in mud, leading the Shui people to call it “Niu Da Gun” (牛打滚).
If you visit the Yunnan Ethnic Village (云南民族村) and pass by the Shui Village (水族村), be sure to sample the soft and sweet Shui snack “Niu Da Gun” (牛打滚) to make your journey truly delightful!
The Shui Book: A Cultural Heritage (水书)
The Shui Book (水书) has a long history and is known as “Le Sui” (乐水) in the Shui language, passed down through generations by Shui scholars and derived from Chinese characters. Its shapes resemble oracle bone script (甲骨文) and bronze inscriptions (青铜铭文), primarily used to record the Shui people’s astronomical, geographical, religious, folklore, ethical, and philosophical cultural information. It is one of the few surviving pictographs in the world, alongside the Dongba script (东巴文), and was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006.
The Shui Book (水书) is an ancient ethnic document, and copies can still be found in the regions inhabited by the Shui (水族) and Bouyei (布依族) people. The Eight Trigrams of Fuxi (伏羲八卦), also known as the Pre-Heaven Eight Trigrams, is one of the valuable pieces of information preserved in the Shui Book (水书).
