The Nu People

The Nu live in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province--specifically Bijiang, Fugong, Gongshan, and Lanping counties, and in Weixi County in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Their language belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese group of the Chinese-Tibetan language family. It is an unwritten language.

Nu descend from the Yi people and the natives of the Fugong and Gongshan mountains, the Anu, and are related to the Dulong people. Historically, the Nu practiced slash-and-burn farming and subsisted on game and wild vegetables. Most cultivated land was privately owned. In 1956 the Kungshan Autonomous County of the Tulung and Nu nationalities was established. In 1958 the people began a production movement that stressed water conservancy and building paddy fields, and by 1969 communes were established and production rose.

Nus practice monogamy. After marriage, men move out of the family home and establish a new household while they retain a cooperative relationship with parents. The youngest son inherits the family property. Couples who have lived together in harmony for twenty or more years celebrate a Dimuwa, a wedding anniversary. Nu homes are made of wood or bamboo, each with two rooms. Guests take the outer room, the middle is the fireplace, and the inner is a bedroom and for grain storage. The outer room is also used as a kitchen. The whole village contributes labor and materials to the building of a home. The building usually occurs on an auspicious day. Nus eat maize and buckwheat but rarely grow vegetables. Strong liquor is a must for both men and women.

The Nus practice animism. Shamans practice divination and primitive medicine and hand down tribal folklore. Tibetan Buddhism and Christianity made some inroads before the communist takeover.

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