Bai (ba)

The population is 1858063.

General situation of nationalities

Bai nationality is a minority with a long history and culture in the southwest frontier of China. Mainly distributed in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, Lijiang, Bijiang, Baoshan, Nanhua, Yuanjiang, Kunming, Anning and other places, as well as Bijie in Guizhou, Liangshan in Sichuan and Sangzhi County in Hunan. According to the statistics of the fifth national census in 2000, the population of Bai nationality is 1858063. Use white language, belonging to Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman language family. Most residents speak their own language, and Chinese is widely used. In the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, "burning Chinese characters" was used, that is, the so-called "white reading of Chinese characters".

Social customs and habits

Bai people basically practice monogamy. The son separated immediately after marriage, and parents usually lived with their youngest son. Some of the landlords are big families with four generations living under one roof. People of the same family and surname don't marry, but they will marry their uncles and aunts as usual. Marriage is usually arranged by parents, so it should be appropriate. A childless woman can be adopted by her husband's wife, and a childless woman can also adopt her brother's children (adoption) or adopted children. Son-in-law and adopted son had to change their names and surnames in order to obtain the right to inherit property.

Before the Yuan Dynasty, the Bai people generally practiced cremation. After the Yuan Dynasty, due to the influence of the Han nationality, it was changed to burial. Funerals are usually grand.

Religious beliefs and important festivals

White worship is equivalent to the master of the village god and believes in Buddhism. The Lord has some natural gods, some princes in Nanzhao Dali and some heroes who kill people. In the late Tang Dynasty, Buddhism prevailed in Erhai Lake area. Initially, Brahman and Tantric Yoga were introduced, and Tantric monks called them "Gui Li". Why? The name is "A Yan Li (A Chi Li)". After the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Zen Buddhism was introduced to Dali in the mainland, and Buddhist temples were spread all over the country, which made Erhai area have the title of "ancient and fragrant country" for a long time.