Chronicle of Liangshan

何万敏Guangxi Normal University Press · ChinaDec 2021

Rating 3.6
Word count
199K words
Chapters
65
ISBN
9787559836366

Tags

History Books Human GeographyNature ObservationHumanistic CareIllustrated GuideFieldworkLiangshan Yi RegionRegional WritingExotic CultureFolk CustomsNational Memory

Summary

This is a slowly unfolding human-geographical chronicle of Liangshan, and at the same time a cultural and spiritual history of Liangshan that bridges past and present.

A native of Liangshan, the author has for years continued to venture deep into Yi communities, recording with images and words the region's seasons, mountains and rivers, vegetation, and customs. From Xichang to the Jinsha River, from Bimo culture to Yi songs, the author magnifies the details of history by portraying individuals, and with a deeply humane touch restores and presents for us the full character of the largest Yi community in China, filling a gap in public understanding of Liangshan's physical geography and cultural history, and allowing us, through this remote region and its ancient and distinctive culture, to deepen our knowledge of the vast land of China.

Editor's review

Liangshan Chronicle is a humanistic and geographical panorama drawn with footsteps and a deeply affectionate gaze. The author, He Wanmin, brings the acuity of a seasoned journalist and the attachment of a son of Liangshan, leading us through the folds of the Hengduan Mountains into this land of legend and misunderstanding in southwest China. Far from an ordinary travelogue or local gazetteer, the book rejects the curiosity-seeker's lens and, in plain, restrained prose, fuses historical documents, field research and personal memory to systematically trace the geography, ethnic groups, history and social change of the Liangshan region.

The book's value lies in its "thick description" and its breaking down of walls. The author not only depicts Liangshan's natural landscapes and the cultural traditions of the Yi people but also works to reveal the complex pulses of this land amid the tide of modernization, exploring the dialogue and tension between an ancient civilization and contemporary life. His revisiting of historical events such as the "Yihai Alliance" and his observations of social transformation in the context of poverty alleviation reflect the depth and sense of responsibility of nonfiction writing. Deep identification with his homeland and rational reflection run through the text, avoiding simple praise or tragic narrative and presenting a weighty yet warm humanistic care.

For readers, this is an intellectual journey of rediscovering "Liangshan." It offers a valuable slice for understanding China's multi-ethnic society, borderland development and cultural transmission. He Wanmin's writing is like that of a patient guide who both points out the signs and leaves room for reflection, so that Liangshan is no longer a blurred outline under news labels but a real world of flesh and blood, full of the rhythm of life.

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Reading tips

  1. Read with a map to follow the locations mentioned in the book and build a sense of space
  2. While reading, note how the author handles his dual identity as observer and native son
  3. The book involves much historical and humanistic background; taking notes can help sort out the threads

About the publisher

Guangxi Normal University Press China · Founded in 1986

Guangxi Normal University Press is a publisher known for literature, foreign literature and history titles. Its 1,175 books in the database show a solid accumulation in classics and prose collections, including foreign literary works such as Les Fleurs du mal: Annotated Poems of Baudelaire, Snow Country, Dubliners and The Wild Palms, as well as modern prose compilations like The Complete Prose of Zhou Zuoren. History and philosophy also hold a notable share, with titles such as Running Dogs: Clerks and Runners in Qing County Yamen and The History and Thought of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom reflecting attention to Qing local administration and modern history. In art literature there is the 16-volume Ten Bamboo Studio Painting and Calligraphy Manual. Its author resources include foreign writers Charles Baudelaire and Yasunari Kawabata, translators and annotators Liu Nanqi and Zou Bo, and scholars such as Zhong Shuhe, Bradly W. Reed and You Chenjun. As public information is limited, this characterization is based only on the books in the database, which together present a profile balancing Chinese and foreign literary classics with academic works in the humanities and social sciences.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 序 唯身与心均至处方为人迹
  3. 前言 凉山，我的精神高地
  4. 凉山·古道
  5. 在登相营
  6. 走清溪道
  7. 歇海棠镇
  8. 出会理城
  9. 进建昌城
  10. 美姑·牛牛坝
  11. 横断山中大凉山
  12. 记忆牛牛坝
  13. 彝族的主要支系
  14. 消失的村寨
  15. 山上的依洛拉达
  16. 板诺洛村的模样
  17. 西昌·邛海
  18. “天府之国”的“袖珍天府”
  19. 山河造就的“温室”
  20. 马可·波罗眼中的大汗建都
  21. “藏彝走廊”上往来的民族
  22. 邛海国际湿地的惊艳
  23. “嫦娥”奔月，西昌搭天梯
  24. 会东·老君滩
  25. 比流淌的血液还早的河流
  26. 说多了就是传奇
  27. 像江中一直被冲刷的石头
  28. 冕宁·锦屏
  29. 早春一月
  30. 消失的金矿县
  31. 大河湾
  32. 茶马古道
  33. 盐源·泸沽湖
  34. 湖光山色的诱惑
  35. 被误读的走婚
  36. 遥远漫长的迁徙
  37. 爱情的含蓄表白
  38. 王妃岛已无王妃
  39. 达巴诵经声中的信仰
  40. 普格·螺髻山
  41. “螺髻山开，峨眉山闭”
  42. 冰川屐痕处处
  43. 山中有温泉
  44. 火把节发祥地
  45. 乡镇上的集市
  46. 甘洛·德布洛莫
  47. “鬼山”在甘洛
  48. 到拉莫乡挖曲村
  49. 两个毕摩同行
  50. “鬼门关”
  51. 漫长的修炼
  52. 背 影
  53. 未来的旅游
  54. 凉山·高山
  55. 金色的龙头山
  56. 攀登俄尔则俄
  57. 朝圣夏诺多吉
  58. 彝人之歌
  59. 唱着歌谣走出大山
  60. 在异乡歌唱故乡
  61. “不要怕”作为自信的个性
  62. 只有山歌敬亲人
  63. 民歌手的抒情诗
  64. 跋一 一个人的凉山
  65. 跋二 世间所有的相遇

FAQ

How is this book different from common reporting or literary works about Liangshan? The core difference is its systematicity and depth. It integrates geographical survey, historical research, social observation and personal life experience, striving to construct a three-dimensional, real and dynamic Liangshan rather than a fragmented, symbolic presentation. The author's local perspective and journalistic training give the narrative both inner warmth and outward objectivity.
Can readers without relevant background knowledge understand it? Absolutely. The author deftly lays the necessary background in the narrative, and the language is plain and clear. It is more like an in-depth visit led by a seasoned guide; readers need no specialized knowledge, only open curiosity, to follow the text gradually into the world of Liangshan.
What are the main value and highlights of this book? The main value lies in "restoration" and "connection": restoring the true face of a region wrapped in multiple narratives, and connecting its glorious past, complex present and promising future. The highlights are the fine field details, the profound historical retrospect and the author's calm thinking on cultural transmission and development, offering a classic sample for understanding China's regional diversity.

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About the author

何万敏 Author

He Wanmin is an author about whom limited public information is available. Two works can currently be confirmed: Annals of Liangshan (Liangshan Ji) and Something Colorful, Something Silent (Youxie Binfen, Youxie Jingmo), commonly classified under historical reading and literary appreciation respectively. Judging from these two books, his writing spans both local history and literary criticism: on the one hand, he takes Liangshan as his subject, tracing its historical development and regional character; on the other, he discusses literature in an appreciative mode, with a tone that remains composed between the colorful and the silent. The two subjects are quite far apart, yet both point to a careful attention to texts and regional experience, reflecting an authorial orientation toward local concerns and a refined pleasure in reading. As biographical details have not been made public, his education, career, and identity cannot be introduced here; readers may first come to know his writing and interests through the works mentioned above.