What are the customs and culture of Li nationality?

Li language belongs to the Li branch of Zhuang and Dong language family of Sino-Tibetan language family, and there are different dialects in different regions. Due to long-term contact with the Han nationality, many Li people also speak Chinese at the same time. In the past, the Li people did not have their own characters, and Latin letters were not produced until 1957.

Li nationality is rich in oral literature, and folk stories and songs occupy a very important position, mostly around the themes of heroes, conquering nature and Li nationality customs. There are five or seven words in the sentences of folk songs, and the expressions are varied. Singing methods include solo, duet and chorus, and there are many tunes. Musical instruments include nose flute, mouth bow, water flute and cave flute.

The clothing style of Li nationality is unique. Men tie their hair in front of their forehead or behind their heads, wrap red or black headscarves, open their coats and tie their waists with cloth towels. Generally speaking, women wear buttons-free embroidered top, decorated with shells, copper coins, beads and other ornaments, wearing a tube skirt, tying their hair into a ball and inserting bones or silver pins.

Extended data

Li villages are built according to the terrain, and mountain villages are generally built at the foot of the mountain to prevent typhoons, so villagers drink more mountain springs; Villages on the plain were built on the hillside to prevent floods. There are many styles of houses in Li nationality, including traditional boat-shaped houses, mud-walled houses with gold frames, bamboo-walled houses and brick houses covered with sunflower leaves, among which boat-shaped houses are the most distinctive.

This kind of house is made of thatch, wood, bamboo, red and white rattan, hemp and other materials. The wood is made of high-quality and durable plaid wood. The house is open at both ends, with skylights on both sides. The floor is raised with stones or stakes, ranging from 30 ~ 180cm above the ground. People live on it, and livestock can walk under it.