A Cultural Geography Study On Naxi Ethnic Minority Fromming Dynasty To The Period Of Republican China

Historical and Cultural Geography is a discipline focusing on the formation and developing rules of geographical system of various cultural phenomena during historical period. It is the sub-discipline of Cultural Geography, Historical Geography and Cultural History with the interdisciplinary characteristics. At present, "Theme Research" and "Cultural Geography Doctrine" are the mainstreams of research in this field, which poses great impact on the development of Historical and Cultural Geography. In China, the study of cultural geography, with abundant fruits, is carried out from three levels of area, dating (time period) and cultural identity. And the domestic research mainly concentrates on the historical and cultural geography study in areas of Han People, while the study in areas of Naxi Ethnic Minority is rarely touched upon. Focusing on the area of Naxi People and the periods of Ming, Qing and Republican China, this research breaks the traditional limitations of administrative division, commits to the temporal and spatial relationship of Naxi cultural evolution from the overall view and discusses the differential characteristics of three sub-cultural regions as well as the interactive relationship between the main cultural district and surrounding ones.The quantity and size of cultural factor in a certain domain is a vital indicator of the division of cultural district. Examined from the vowel sound, tone and vocabulary, the distribution of Naxi Language can be divided into eastern dialect area and western one with the boundary of Wuliang River linking to Jinsha River. Moreover, it tends to continuous differentiation with the development of society. Naxi Hieroglyph is the so far "only-existed" hieroglyph, which has great significance on the research of word formation. Naxi Hieroglyph includes Dongba, Geba, Malimasa and Ruanke scripts which are the hieroglyphs of varied geographical areas. According to the writing style of Dongba scripture and the quantity Dongba and Geba words are used, the scriptures written by Naxi Hieroglyph can be categorized into four distribution areas, which enjoys an obvious regional characteristic.Dongba Religion is believed by Naxi People uniquely, and can be grouped into Dongba and Daba of which the distribution areas are consistent with the eastern and western dialect areas. Sanduo God is mainly believed by the branch of "Naxi". Faith in the Native Deity is obviously different in the areas of Lijiang, Yongning and Baidi, the images of these Native Deities develops from natural objects to human being. Furthermore, Tibetan Buddhism has great influence in Naxi area, and more than 30 temples are built. There are 13 major monasteries in the northwestern region of Yunnan mainly with the sect of Gemagejiu, while in the eastern region there is mainly Gelug sect, and the monasteries of Sakya sect are still retained in the area of Langqu. In Ming Dynasty, Chinese Buddhism has a dominant place in Lijiang, meanwhile Taoism also poses great influence on the area of Naxi People. The religions imported from outside have been secularized in Naxi area, which is the reason of coexistence of various religions in Naxi area.From Ming dynasty to the period of Republican China, the customs of Naxi ethnic minority are stained with the customs of Han as well as other Peoples and become the diverse exotic customs, which can find full expressions in Heaven Worshipping and festivals of Naxi. Every official puts great emphasis on the mission of "changing the customs", and carries out mound burial in Naxi area. There is mainly mound burial in the dam areas, valleys and transportation arteries, while there is the tradition of cremation in mid-levels and mountainous areas. Such geographical distribution keeps a direct proportional relationship with the degree of stain of Han culture. In funeral rites, the soul of the deceased should be sent back to the ancestral home, and it includes Naxi ancestors’memories for geographical space, which is an important base to study the migratory routes of Naxi People. During this period, the marriage and family pattern in Lijiang enjoys the most striking features. The male-leaving matrilineal system along Lugu Lake, polygamous double lineage system in Eya, and monogamous patrilineal system in Lijiang become the "living fossil" of the research on marriage and family pattern of human being. These marriage customs are formed in the joint impact of geographical environment, administrative system, economic factor and so on.Viewed from the spatial and temporal changes of Naxi People’s life, the costume is the representation of the nation as well as the "pointer" of the development of human being. The costume of Naxi ethnic minority enjoys a variety of differences in varied regions. In Ming Dynasty, there are mainly costume cultural areas of Lijiang and Yongning, while there are areas of Lijiang, Baidi and Yongning in Qing Dynasty. In this period, wool, leather and linen are widely used to make national costumes with diverse designs, which reflects the characteristic of blending with surrounding ethnic minority such as Tibet, Bai, Yi and Lisu ethnic minorities. What’s more, the introduction of alien species contributes to the different eating habits as well as the change of social structure within the area. The food culture of Naxi enjoys the characteristics of nationality as well as regionality. In addition, "Muleng House" is the main residential building of Naxi People in early times. However, residential buildings have developed greatly with the development of exchange and the introduction of religious architecture, forming the diverse residential patterns and styles of so-called "Sanfangyizhaobi"(a courtyard with three two-stored wooden buildings and a decorating wall in four different directions), "Sihewutianjing" (a residence with three two-stored wooden buildings and a one-stored building in four different directions), "Man House"(a two-stored wooden building with two corridors in the first and second floor respectively), "Men House"(building without windows) and so on. The factors of climate, building material and ethnic culture contribute to the changes of residence styles and patterns in Lijiang.Through the analysis of cultural factors mentioned-above, this study explores the basis for the division of main cultural district and three sub-cultural districts. Three sub-cultural districts of Lijiang, Baidi and Yongning enjoy distinct differences, and the geographical environment, political forces, administrative divisions, the development of transportation and integration among nationalities are the significant factors contributing to the differences. From Ming Dynasty to the period of Republican China, Naxi culture is fully influenced by Han culture with manifestation in Dongjing Music in Lijiang, murals and education of Han culture. Moreover, there is cultural interaction and mutual influence between Naxi and other surrounding ethnic minorities such as Tibet, Bai, Pumi and so on. This geopolitical interactive relationship continues untilIn short, the grand and flourish ethnic culture of Naxi People has developed by the ways of absorbing other culture in historical period. And the cultural complex, with nationality and regionality meanwhile labeled as Naxi Culture, is formed by the blending, variation and deposition of different national culture in Naxi area in varied historical periods.