Unique tribes of the world : Tribalogy # 4- Bai Tribe

The Bai community is one of the 56 ethnic communities officially recognized by the state of the Peoples Republic of China. The Bai community mainly lives in the province of Yunnan, Hunan, and Guizhou and their total population ranges from 1.5 million to 2 million. The community speaks a local language called Bai language which is normally a variant of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The Bai community is also sometimes referred as Baip community.

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Origin

History shows that the Bai community originated around the Lake Erhai in the Yunnan province of China during Bronze age. The names of the Bai community evolved during different reigns and dynasties and ultimately they got the name “Bai” after the establishment of the kingdom of Dali during Song dynasty. The Bai in alliance with Yi community established their own kingdom called Nanzhao regime during the Tang dynasty. The names that the Bai community got passing through different times include Dianbo, Kunming, Baiman, and Minjia etc.

Religion

The religious affiliations of the Bai community are very different and complex.Bai people do not follow any particular religion as some follow Buddhism, some follow Christianity, Some Daoism and many of them follow their own local religion called Benzhuism. Some of the people who affiliate themselves with Bai community also follow Islam.

The Benzhuism is a local religion which teaches the worships of multiple gods and deities. In this religion, every village or multiple villages have a Benzhu wish or god. The Benzhu wish is normally a historical figure famous for the bravery or some other character and is considered a link between the heaven and the earth. On the religious occasions, these people offer animal sacrifice to please their gods.

Music

The Bai community has a rich culture of music and dance. These things are especially visible on special occasions such as festivals related to different seasons. The folk dance called “ the overlord’s slash” is performed with the tune of a local musical instrument made of the wood.

Clothes

The word Bai (white) is truly reflected in the clothes of the community in the sense that most of the community members white dress including both males and females.

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Females wear loose white dresses with the black sleeveless coast, shoes of white cloth and jewelry made up of gold or silver. The married women have rolled hairs whereas unmarried women have one pigtail on the top of the head. The Bai men usually wear white dresses with black coats and loose shorts.

Ceremonies

Though Bai community celebrates many festivals yet three of them are very popular among the foreign tourists. The three celebrations include March Fair, moving round three temples and Torch festival. The March Fair is celebrated in the third month of the lunar year, Torch Festival in April and Moving round three temples in the sixth month of the lunar year.

The community celebrates these occasions with music and cultural dance. The members of the community also bring commodities along to exchange them with each other. In the Torch festivals, members of the Bai community light torches as a sign of celebrations and young people try to find their future life partners.

Tribal traits

Friendly people

The Bai community is very friendly and loving and open to the outside world. Every year tourists from across the globe gather at the Yunnan province in China to participate in their celebrates.

Closely-bonded community

All the members of the Bai community are closely bonded together and live in an autonomous region in the Yunnan province of China. They share their joys and sorrows with each other.

Food

The Bai community eats a variety of different foods including fish, rice, corn, and cheese. The cheese made by the community which includes Rubbing and Rushan cheese is very popular among food lovers. The Bai community also celebrates many of their festivals by serving the guests with the traditional tea prepared in Dali area.

Famous personalities

1. Shen Yiqin (An important leader of the Communist Party of
   China and the governor of Guizhou province)

2. Wang Xiji ( Prominent space scientist)

3. Zhou Bhaozong (The General who battled the Japenese
   invasion of China during Second World War)

4. Zhao Fan (Scholar and poet)