The Naxi people living in the Lijiang region are an ethnic group with a profound cultural heritage. Though their population is only around 300,000, their rich and distinctive culture has drawn widespread attention and earned international renown. This cultural legacy is known as Dongba Culture, a unique tradition passed down through generations of the Naxi people.
 
● Overview
Dongba Culture is one of the most important aspects of Naxi ethnic culture. It derives its name from being preserved within the Dongba religion and boasts a history of over a thousand years. Like other ancient cultures of the world, Dongba Culture is both a religious and folk tradition. The Dongba religion is a form of primitive polytheism among the Naxi, based on the belief that all things have spirits. It developed from the indigenous Naxi shamanic culture and was later influenced by the Tibetan Bon religion that spread into Lijiang.
 
Priests of this religion are called “Dongba” meaning “wise one.” These “wise ones” are well-versed in various knowledge domains such as painting, music, dance, astronomy, geography, agriculture, medicine, and rituals. The scriptures they write use an ancient pictographic script that represents people and objects by drawing them as they are. This script is known as Dongba Script and the Dongba priests are the main inheritors and transmitters of Dongba Culture. In other words, Dongba Culture is the ancient Naxi culture passed down through generations of Dongba priests.
 
● Components
Dongba Culture consists of several elements: Dongba pictographic script, Dongba scriptures, Dongba painting, Dongba music, Dongba dance, and a wide variety of ritual ceremonies.
 
Dongba Script
Dongba Script is a primitive pictographic writing system mainly used by Dongba priests to write scriptures, hence its name. In Naxi, it is called “Sijiu Lujiu”, meaning “traces on wood and stone,” implying “drawing wood on wood, drawing stone on stone.” It has two meanings: first, the marks recorded on wood and stone; second, the traces left by wood and stone, metaphorically referring to depicting what is seen. As it is mainly understood and used by Dongba priests for religious texts, it is also called “Dongba Te’e”, meaning “Dongba characters.” This writing system combines ideographic and phonetic components and is even more primitive in form than Oracle Bone Script, making it one of the earliest forms of writing, capable of fully recording and preserving content.
 
Dongba Scriptures
Scriptures written and chanted in Dongba Script are known as Dongba Scriptures, or Dongba Jiu in the Naxi language. These books serve as an encyclopedia of ancient Naxi society. They are compiled using thick cotton paper made from local woody plants (commonly known as Dongba paper) and written with ink made from soot and ox bile using handmade bamboo pens. Their contents are vast and encompass Naxi knowledge of astronomy, meteorology, calendars, geography, history, local customs, flora and fauna, disease and medicine, metallurgy, weapons, agriculture, animal husbandry, hunting, crafts, clothing, food and daily life, family structures, marriage systems, religious beliefs, painting, music, dance, drama, and more. Scholars regard the Dongba Scriptures as invaluable resources for studying the Naxi people's ancient philosophy, language, history, religion, customs, literature, ethics, and even the evolution of religious culture in the Tibetan-Yi corridor of Southwest China and the origins of ancient Chinese culture.
 
Dongba Painting
During rituals, Dongba priests paint various deities, figures, animals, plants, and mythical creatures, which they worship and offer sacrifices to. These ritualistic paintings are collectively called Dongba Paintings. They are an essential part of Dongba Culture and come in various forms such as wood plaques, paper cards, cloth scrolls, and illustrated scriptures. The themes mainly depict divine and supernatural beings from ancient Naxi beliefs and idealized worlds, while also reflecting the secular life of ancient Naxi society. They are considered the most distinctive visual art heritage of the Naxi people.
 
Dongba Music
Dongba music refers to the chants used by Dongba priests during rituals, often accompanied by instruments. It is an oral tradition or sometimes recorded in Dongba Scriptures and paintings. Except for divination texts, most scriptures are sung rather than simply read. There are about fifty chant melodies rooted in traditional Naxi folk tunes. Instrumentation includes clappers, drums, gongs, and cymbals, typically with simple rhythms and structures. Instrumental music also plays a role in rituals, combining with chants to produce harmonious and resonant compositions. This music is not only a vehicle for religious expression but also folk songs sung by both Dongba priests and local performers, representing the collective spiritual creation of the Naxi people.
 
Dongba Dance
Dongba Dance refers to ritual dances performed by Dongba priests during religious ceremonies, tailored to different rituals and following sacred rules. Many dance movements are inspired by ancient Naxi societal life and mimic animal actions, making them highly expressive and vivid. The Naxi are known for their singing and dancing abilities, and dance is a vital part of their cultural life. Dongba Dance represents classical Naxi dance, often depicting the struggle of the ancient Naxi people against nature and evil social forces.
 
Dongba Rituals
Rituals are an essential part of religious culture. The Dongba religion includes over 30 types of ceremonies, serving as the main medium through which Dongba Culture is expressed and preserved. These ceremonies interpret the relationships between humans and nature, and humans and society, and are closely related to the production and life of the Naxi ancestors. They are rich in cultural significance. Representative rituals include “Worshiping Heaven,” “Worshiping the Wind,” “Worshiping Fire,” and “Worshiping Dīngbā Shiluó.” Others include the “Ruzhonghua” ritual for praying for favorable weather, various forms of divination, and more.
 
● The Western Pioneer in Dongba Research: Joseph F. Rock
Joseph F. Rock was an Austrian-American who arrived in Southwest China in 1922. Initially, he was tasked by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to collect plant and animal specimens in Yunnan. However, he soon became fascinated by the enchanting Naxi culture and shifted his focus to studying Dongba Culture. He spent 27 years in Lijiang and authored “The Ancient Nakhi Kingdom of Southwest China”, earning the title of the Western pioneer in Dongba cultural research.