The Pumi People

Most Pumi live in northern Lanping County, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County and Weixi County of northwestern Yunnan. Often they live side-by-side with the Naxi, Tibetan, Yi, and Lisu. Ancient Pumi were nomadic, living as herdsmen on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. They moved to warmer areas along valleys within the Hengduan Mountain Range in the fourth century BC. By the seventh century AD, they were found in Sichuan and by the fourteenth century, in northwestern Yunnan.

Pumi land is above sea level. Most of their cultivated land is in the mountains with some in the narrow valleys. Agriculture occupies a major position within their economy with many Pumi working as farmers. Corn is their principal grain along with buckwheat and highland barley. Water mills are used for grinding to make flour. Villages located in river valleys produce a small amount of rice. Potatoes, cabbage, carrots, eggplant, fruits, tobacco, tea and wine are also produced. Many medicinal herbs and 100 varieties of edible fungi are grown. Horses, cattle, mules, sheep, pigs, chickens and bees are raised. In Ninglang, logging is also important. Since liberation, some Pumi have worked with iron and mined salt and aluminum. Lacquered wooden bowls made in Ninglang County are known for their fine workmanship. Sheep wool, spun into yarn on a spinning wheel, is woven into wool sweaters, blankets or cloth.

The Pumi believe that if while hunting, they catch a large animal and kill it at home, their own livestock will die. Thus, they kill and skin on the spot any animals they hunt.

Before liberation, landlords dominated the Pumi economy. Except for a limited number of "public hills," the landlords owned the land and exploited the peasants renting the land. Pumi landlords owned domestic slaves. Since 1950, Pumis have become their own masters. Democratic reforms were completed between 1952 and 1956. These reforms were accompanied by a large-scale construction program, which included irrigation projects, factories, schools and hospitals. Their once arid land was transformed into terraced fields.

The Pumi extended family is strong and lives together, even up to four generations. Clan members are committed to helping one another through difficult times. Within the family, hierarchy is based on age or seniority.

Most Pumi clans have a monogamous, patriarchal history; however, some Pumi in Yongsing continue to follow a matriarchal system linked to the Azhu marriage system. Azhu means "friends." A man and a woman may become Azhu at their own discretion. The man stays at the woman's home at night and returns to his family's home during the day to work his family's land. This relationship does not require a ceremony and may end at any time based upon the man or woman's decision.

During their Grand Spring Festival, gates and rooftops are decorated with pine shoots or branches as a symbol of prosperity. At the first crow of the village cock, all the shotguns of the village go off and conches are blown to meet the New Year. All the youth, at this signal, run to the river to fetch water carried in casks. The first one to get water into his or her cask will have good luck throughout the year.

Cow and sheep bones are hung on gates to ward off evil. At the center of their house is a wooden post, "the sky prop," where the house spirit abides. The family fireplace squarely faces the sky prop. Between the fireplace and the wooden wall of the log chamber is the family altar for making offerings to the family ancestors. They will not eat anything until it has first been placed on the altar or the tripod over the fireplace signaling that the ancestors should take it first. Before they have a drink, they sprinkle a few drops of wine on the altar or tripod by way of oblation. It is taboo to stride over the tripod or put anything unclean on it as this would be disrespectful to the ancestors. In addition, the initial boiling of tea is dedicated to the ancestors.

Of all the spirits, the mountain deities are the most sacred. The Pumi believe that they bless the people with bumper harvests and thriving herds and, if offended, the deities would release a deluge of wild beasts against them and their stock.

Each village worships their minor mountain god on the 15th day of every month. All Pumi hold a grand ceremony on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month for their common god, the Great Mountain God. Every Pumi must participate in this ceremony, including very old people and children. Those who cannot climb the mountain must be represented. They believe a special ritual involving barley flour cakes tricks evil spirits into following the pilgrims up the mountain instead of staying behind and hurting those who cannot go.

The people climb the mountain to an altar where they decorate nearby trees. They blow conches to start the ceremony and an aged man chants prayers and pleads for blessings. They pile collected pine branches on the altar and light them, then, they encircle the altar, kneel and kowtow to the tree altar. Some put old clothes on the altar to rid them of evil influences. On this special day, hunting is prohibited. Usually alcohol is prohibited for those under 25, but on this day, all must drink.