The Yi Nationality is the sixth largest ethnic group in China. According to the 2010 nationwide census, the total population is about 8.7 million. The Yi people mainly live in Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province, Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Nationality’s Autonomous Region. Most Yi people are mountain dwellers, while a few of them inhabit in flat lands. Yunnan Province is the largest habitation of Yi Nationality. Over 5 million Yi people reside in Yunnan. Liangshan Prefecture lies in the southwest of Sichuan Province. It is the most densely populated area occupied by the Yi people. Yi Nationality comprises over 100 subgroups. They each have their own self-appellations, such as Nuosu, Nasu, Niesu, Lowu, Axipo and Sani.
The History of Yi Nationality
The Yi Nationality originated from the Ancient Qiang Groups which were nomadic tribes living on the Qinghai-Tibet High Plateau. Some of the tribes migrated to Anning Valley and Jinsha Valley around 4,000 years ago. They were ancestors of the present Yi people. Anning Valley lies in Liangshan Prefecture, and Jinsha Valley covers the border area between Sichuan Province and Yunnan Province. In the first century, the descendants of those migrants were divided into six clans. In the year of 738, Piluoge, the chieftain of Mengshe Clan established the Nanzhao Kingdom(738-902) and conquered the other five clans. Piluoge is also known as the King of Yunnan. It was a title granted to him by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang(618-907). The Nanzhao Kingdom became a vassal state of the Tang. It occupied the northeastern Yunnan, the northwestern Guizhou and the southwestern Sichuan. Yi people comprises a large proportion of the kingdom’s population. Both the Bai and the Naxi(or Nahsi) were the minorities of the kingdom. During the Song Dynasty(960-1279), some regional regimes were founded one after another, such as the Dali Kingdom and the Luodian Kingdom. The former was ruled by the Bai and the latter was under the control of the Yi. Both were destroyed by the Mongols.
The Tusi(chieftains) system was popular among some ethnic groups. The chieftains ruled their own territories. They were slave owners. The Yi people were divided into five classes in ancient times, namely Zimo, Nuohe, Qunuo, Ajia and Gaxi. Zimo means power in English. It refers to the chieftains who occupied different lands. Nuohe means black and slave owner. It refers to the family members of the chieftains. Both the chieftains and their family members were called the Black Yi or the nobles. Quno, Ajia and Gaxi were slaves. They were called the White Yi. During the early Qing Dynasty(1644-1911), Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yongzheng launched a political movement to deprive chieftains of their power. Governors were appointed by the central government to administer the regions occupied by the minorities. As a result of the movement, many ethnic communities were converted from slavery into feudalism. However, some regions were still dominated by the chieftains until the slavery was abolished in 1949.
Yi’s Language
Yi people speak their native language which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. They also created their own writing system. It is known as Luoluo Script or Chuaiwen Script. The spoken language of Yi can be divided into six dialects.
The Food of Yi
Yi people plant a variety of crops, such as potato, corn(maize), rice and vegetables. They also breed and keep scores of livestock, like cattle, pigs, and goats. Barbecue is quite popular among the locals. Various meats and vegetables are placed on gridirons and grilled by burning charcoal.
Yi’s Culture and Folk Customs
The ancestors of Yi created their own calendar. According the calendar, a year is divided into 10 months, and each month is comprised of 36 days. Five or six days are spent to celebrate every new year. There are totally 365 or 366 days in a year.
Yi people celebrate many festivals, such as the Torch Festival and the Yi’s New Year. Among them, the Torch Festival is the most grand. It is a common traditional festival of some minorities in southwestern China, like Yi Nationality, Bai Nationality, Naxi Nationality and others. The festival is held at different time by different ethnic groups. In Liangshan Prefecture, the Torch Festival lasts from the twenty-fourth day to the twenty-seventh day of the sixth month according to the Yi’s calender. It originated over 1,000 years ago from the worship to a legendary figure whose name was Atilaba. He was a wrestler and a hero. A long time ago, a plague of locusts broke out in the homeland of Yi people. The wrestler led his people to drive away the locusts with torches. The Torch Festival is well-known as the Carnival of the orient. The celebrations during the festival include a variety of competitions and performances, such as the bonfire party, the horse racing, the bullfighting and the beauty contest. Both men and women are good singers and dancers. The most impressive dance is called Duoluohe. All the dancers must be young girls. They dance together holding a yellow umbrella. The Torch Festival also offers young people an opportunity to meet their marriage partners.
Most of Yi People are followers of their own primitive religion. It is a kind of animism. In every tribe or village, there is a wizard. The wizard is called Bimo. Bimo means master or teacher. Yi people believe that the Bimo can communicate with gods.
According to the difference of Yi’s subgroups, the traditional costume of Yi can be categorized into six types, namely Liangshan, Wumengshan, Honghe, Chuxiong, Southeastern Yunnan and Western Yunnan. However, most Yi women love to wear kerchiefs and silver ornaments.
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Author: Tina Luo
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