The Li Ethnic Minority is the 18Th Largest Ethnic Minority Group in China.
Li Ethnic Culture in China :
The Li Ethnic Minority is an ethnic group found exclusively on the Island of Hainan in South China. The majority of them can be found living close-knit ethnic communities in the southern and central regions of that island.
In the year 2000 there were 1 million 247 thousand and 800 Ethnic Li living within the People Republic of China. The Li, together with the Min are the descendants of the 'original' inhabitants of the Island, which for a long time lay secluded off the Coast of the Empire.
The Tujia lifestyle is traditionally agricultural, supplemented with fishing, hunting and gathering.
The most important Li festivals are those that they share with- and have adopted from the Han People. These are Spring Festival (Lunar New Year), the Ching Ming or Tomb Sweeping Festival and others.
The largest pure Li Ethnic Festival is known as the San Yue San, which translates as 'third of the third' month of the Lunar Year. On this day all Li come out to celebrate their ethnic heritage, young people sing, dance, meet and date among bonfires that remain light all night. With the boom in luxury tourism on Hainan Island the Li Festival is rapidly grwoing popular with Han visitors from the mainland
The Li have their own spoken language and script. The Li script however is not original but one created by historians and intellectuals in 1957 AD. Thus, the Li script was never widely used or recognized and remains a rather academic endeavor.
As a result no doubt of modern styled education teaching
A Full and complete Map of China (PRC) identifying all Language Areas big and small in all Provinces and Autonomous Regions of China.
Map includes Turkic Languages (Uygur, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Salar & Uzbek), Mongolian Language and Sub-Divisions (Mongol, Tu, Daur and Dongxian), Tungusic Peoples (Oroqen, Evenki and Xibe) and Languages, Korean, Tajik (Tadzhik), Mon-Khmer (Kawa + Puman (or Pulang)), Hui, Uygur (Uighur), Tibeto-Bhurman Languages, Tai and Miao, Yao and She' Language Area's and Borders. Main Area's and sub-divisions of Han Languages (Northern Mandarin, Eastern Mandarin, South-Western Mandarin and Cantonese) further included. This color-coded ethno-linguistic Map (of 1967 AD) identifies at a glance most ethnic minority regions in China
Map China Ethno-Linguistic / Language Distribution China
Traditionally, all members of the same Li Family or 'Clan' lived together in one large communal house. The Li homes are large, constructed of wood and bamboo and have a unique boat-shaped design. Only unmarried clan-members (of eligable age) lived apart in their own boat-shaped house which stood near the clan home or completely sperate in another section of the village.
Since the 1950's, when The Peoples Republic of China established itself, much has changed in the lifestyle of the Li, especially when it comes to communal living and marriage. Today, communal houses are very rare and can only be found in a few villages in the central part of the Island. Marriage customs have changed as well.
The Li traditional dress is : no information available at this Time.
The traditional Li religious beliefs are : no information available at this Time.
No information available at this Time.
The Li people traditionaly live an agricultural lifestyle, supplementing their diet by fishing, hunting and gathering.
Much of the traditional lifestyle of the Li has disappeared in the centuries past although many traditions and customs lasted at least until the advent of the Peoples Republic of China, when Hainan and the Li People on it were swept up in the large ambitions of the new nation.
Traditional handicrafts of the Li People are weaving and spinning and their various products. According to a Chinese legend the Han People of the mainland in Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province learned their skills by adopting the methods long practised by the Li People. Supposedly this happened in the 15Th Century when a Han woman named Huang Daopo visited the Island and upon her return introduced the weaving and spinning methods of the Li People in her own native regions.
(Note: this must have been during the early 15Th Century since Imperial Decrees thereafter forbade maritime travels for a long period.)
Li Folklore is supposedly quite rich, and the Li traditionally love song and dance. Their most well-known dance is the bamboo-rod dance.
No information available at this Time.
Mandarin Chinese language and script, which is obligatory for all children including those of Minorities, today most Li speak Mandarin Chinese and the Li Language has become only secondary at best.
The future outlook for the Li language is not rosy. It is expected to disappear entirely within decades.
