Yi people

The Yi people are a large ethnic group living primarily in southern China. They are the sixth largest of the 55 recognized ethnic minority groups in the country. There are approximately nine million Yi people in total.

Most live in rural, mountainous regions of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. The Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is a major center, housing two million Yi people. A smaller subgroup called the Lô Lô lives in northern Vietnam.

Geography plays a massive role in how the Yi live. They often inhabit steep mountain slopes far from urban centers. Because of the high altitudes, the climate and precipitation change rapidly. This leads to a local saying that the weather is different just a few miles away. These environmental differences mean that Yi populations in different areas live in very different ways.

The Yi speak various Loloish languages, which are closely related to Burmese. The prestige variety is known as Nuosu. This variety is written using the Yi script.

While many groups use different names, such as Nisu, Sani, or Axi, the Chinese government classifies them as one ethnicity. Some names, like Lolo, are connected to the word for "tiger" in certain dialects. Historically, the Chinese name for these groups used a "dog radical" in writing, which was considered a pejorative or offensive term. Over time, language reforms changed how these names were written to be more respectful.

Yi legends offer a unique view of their origins. According to myth, all life began in water created by melting snow. This process created a creature called the Ni, which gave birth to all life. The Ni is another name for the Yi people. Some scholars suggest the name means "black," a color that is highly revered in Yi culture.

Tradition also tells of a common ancestor named Apu Dumu. He had six sons who migrated in different directions to form the various clans. A lineage system meant younger brothers often left to start their own domains.

History shows the Yi were part of several significant kingdoms. In the 3rd century AD, the Mo clan split into branches that formed kingdoms like Ziqi. By the Tang dynasty, the Chele branch occupied areas in Sichuan and Guizhou.

In Yunnan, the Black Mywa tribes are considered predecessors of the Yi people. In 737 AD, a leader named Piluoge united several tribes to establish the Nanzhao kingdom.

The Nanzhao capital was at Taihe, located in the Erhai valley. During this era, the Black Mywa often served as warriors.

The Nanzhao kingdom lasted for 165 years until 902 AD. It was eventually succeeded by the Kingdom of Dali. The Dali kingdom ruled for 316 years before being conquered by Kublai Khan. Under the Yuan dynasty, the government established the Luoluo Xuanweisi. This was a local government designed to manage the Yi people.

Despite this imperial control, the Yi people maintained a high degree of autonomy during this period.

As the Ming and Qing dynasties progressed, the Chinese empire began a policy of cultural assimilation. This involved replacing local chieftains, known as tusi, with central officials. This shift changed how local power was managed in southwestern China. Throughout these centuries of change, the Yi maintained distinct cultural identities. Their history is a complex map of migrations, clan splits, and shifting political borders.