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Dancing for the ‘Fairy Maiden’
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Though widely acknowledged as a single ethnic group in China there is diversity within the Nu people, including their origin, language and religion.
With a population of 39,555, most Nu people live in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, while others dwell in Weixi Lisu Autonomous County in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Chayu County in Tibet Autonomous Region.
The Nu ethnic group is an old nation that has long dwelled in the mountains along the Nujiang and Lancangjiang rivers.
There are subtropical, temperate and frigid zones within the region and this combination provides various rare plants. The area is sometimes referred to as the “kingdom of medical herbs.” The region is also rich in mineral deposits.
The group has two origins according to their folklore and related literature. The group referring to themselves as “Nuosu” and “Anu” is closely related with the Yi ethnic group and developed from a part of the “Luluman” recorded in the literature of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The group of Nus who refer to themselves as “Along” may have originated in the Nujiang River area, where they still live.
“Nu people” was first used in “Baiyi Biography,” an important ethnography of southeastern China written in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). From then on, terms referring to them as “Nuren,” “Nuzi” and “Nuren” became fixed, indicating the Nu were regarded as an independent ethnic group.
The Nu people speak a language belonging to the Tibetan-Myanmese groups of the Chinese-Tibetan language family. It has no written form. There are big differences in Nu dialects. People speaking different dialects usually cannot understand one another.
Most Nu people speak two other languages like Lisu, Bai, Tibetan or Mandarin.
Their staple foods include corn, buckwheat, rice and millet although pork, chicken, beef, mutton, sweet potato, bamboo shoots, bean, edible wild herbs and mushrooms are also common in their diet.
They used to hunt muntjac, musk deer and wild goats but the tradition gradually faded out with increasing awareness of environmental protection. Gruel mixed with rice and vegetables is a particular favorite. Local delicacies also include roasted suckling pig, lute meat, Gala, tree flower tea, Qiyou tea and roasted cake on the plank.
Many Nu people like to smoke a long-stemmed Chinese pipe.
Traditionally, Nu people wear homemade linen clothes. Men wear linen trousers with linen puttees and a chopper in the waist. They often carry a bow, crossbow and bow bag with them year around.
Single Nu women usually wear a black, dark red or dark blue short jacket over a grown. The lower-hem of their skirt is usually wide and long, covering the knees even if the hem is lifted shoulder high.
The skirt for married women is usually edged with lace. They love wearing big earrings and decorate their hair with coral, shells, coins and a little bronze bell.
But today most Nu people dress like Han people.
The Nu ethnic group have a bunch of traditional folk dances and songs including “Song of the God of Hunters” and “Wedding Song,” which has hundreds of verses.
Group dances beside a fireplace are popular among Nu people. The dances are usually about migrating, hunting, gathering, fishing, farming, cooking, love affairs, battles and religion. “Sheep Contest Dance,” “Double Lute Dance” and “Counter-lute Dance” are among their favorites.
Nu people may be Tibetan Buddhists Christians or other religions. Different religions may be taken by members of the same Nu branch, village and even family.
The Nu people celebrate holidays like Nu’s New Year, Fairy Maiden Festival (or Flower Festival), Spring Festival, the god of Grain Festival, Mountain Forest Festival. Christians also celebrate Christmas and Easter.
The Fairy Maiden Festival falls on the 15th day of the third month of the Chinese calendar and is one of their biggest holidays.
An old legend goes that the Nu people had once suffered a drought. A beautiful, clever and powerful girl split a cliff with her bare hands and a spring of clear water flowed forth, saving the land and the people. The Nu people worships the girl as “Fairy Maiden” and hold the festival in her honor. During the festival villagers will go to the “fairy maiden cave” and offer sacrifices.
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