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The houses of the Naxi and Bai ethnic groups in
northwestern Yunnan have kept the traditional style of Chinese
architecture. They are made from wood or bricks, with white-washed
walls, in the form of three houses, one main house, and two
connecting houses, plus one screen wall. The houses are usually
built with flying buttresses, carved beams and painted rafters,
and in the courtyard, grass and trees are grown. They form a sort
of living museum of traditional sculpture, painting and
calligraphy. The most typical houses can be found in the ancient
towns of Lijiang, Dali and Weishan. Beside the Lugu
Lake, known as the "mother lake", are the wooden houses of the
Mosuo people. The houses, with log walls and wooden roof tiles,
come from the roots of the matriarchal society. The houses of the
Yi ethnic group on Liangshan Mountain are built from mud, and the
base of the wall is inlaid with stones. They nestle in perfect
harmony with the surrounding mountains. The Dai,
Jingpo, Wa, De'ang, Jinuo and Lahu ethnic groups in the west and
southwest of Yunnan make their houses from bamboo, timber and
grass. They live upstairs, and keep their livestock under the
houses. These bamboo buildings are well ventilated, to suit the
tropical environment. They vary in style according to the ethnic
group. The Dai houses are elegant, the Wa houses simple, while the
houses of the Jinuo and Lahu people are large in order to
accommodate big families which include several generations.
The houses of the Hani ethnic group in southern Yunnan are shaped
like mushrooms, and are built from mud and have thatched roofs.
The houses of the Tibetan, Lisu and Buyi ethnic groups also have
their own style. The dwelling houses of the ethnic groups in
Yunnan are all extremely practical. They display the ethnic
people's wisdom, and t heir ability to adapt to their natural
surroundings. |
