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Travel Yunnan China : Minorities : The Yi Nationality

Kunming Dali
Lijiang Deqen
Jinghong Dehong
Baoshan Honghe

 

The Yi Nationality

Yi nation is one of ancient nations in Yunnan. Their ancient people were related with Qiang nation, now the population of 4.05 million . They are distributed over Chuxiong, Honghe, Ailaoshang and areas of Xiaoliangshang in Yunnan. Their language is a branch of the family of Tibetan and Myanmar languages. Yi lives in a type of house of wood timbers battlement, The fire of fireplace ( a hollow dug on the ground) is never put off a year around in their houses. It is the living center of the family so called "Fireplace Culture". Yi's nature is so forthright, good at drinking, singing and having a felt on the back. The family system is the structure of a husband and one wife forming a small family. They prefer to the black color, so in the history the Yi nobleman was always in black, the white represented the "Wazi" meaning the serfs. The man has a black scarf around the head and a set of black clothes. But the woman is in colorful shining clothes. Yi nation believes in the Master of Soil and multi-Gods religion. Their main holiday is the "Festival of Torch" (Around in March) .