Mosuo

From Free net encyclopedia

The Mosuo (also spelled 'Moso') (Chinese: 摩梭; pinyin: Mósuō) are a small ethnic group living in the Yunnan Province in China, south of Sichuan Province. Consisting of a population of 50,000, most of them are found near Lugu Lake, which is not far removed from the Tibetan Himalayas. Although culturally distinct from the Nakhi, the Chinese government places them as members of the Nakhi. Their culture has been documented by indigenous scholar Lamu Gatusa.

1 Script
2 Language
3 Customs
4 Lifestyle
5 Religion
6 External links

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Script

Generally, the Mosuo uses the Han script for daily communication. The Tibetan script is mainly used for religious purposes.

The Mosuo also have a pictographic script consisting of only a few hundred characters and used solely for religious purposes.

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Language

The Mosuo speak the Naru language, which resides in the Tibetan-Burman family.

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Customs

As a Matrilineal duolocal society, the Mosuo have been more successful in retaining their culture than the Nakhi, and are divided into four generations in a household. Upon reaching the age of fifteen, a female Axia will select a male Azhu, who has to reach at least seventeen, in a ritual dance. Such unions last upon the woman’s discretion, which can last from as briefly as one night to becoming a lifelong partnership.

With such a highly fluid relationship pattern, many men and women formed a marriage system locally known as tisese, which literally means walking to and from. It is named "walking to and from" because of the way tisese is conducted. Being a visiting sexual system, men would walk from their own village to his partner's village, staying the night with her and then leaving in the morning. In the event of the man siring offspring, he will then visit his children and partner at the house of her mother. However, with the exception of little property ownership and policy making decisions, the men are also placed in a subservient role in these matters. His responsibilities are first and foremost to the children of his mother or sister's family. Tisese does not change the economic status of those involved.

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Lifestyle

As fishermen and farmers, the staple food of the Mosuo include barley and wheat. Traditional costumes made out of velvet and silk, adding with the exquisite mixture of black, white and red colors virtually transforms every young woman into a princess.

Variations of the costume indicate a woman's age and status. As matriarchs, the older women are dressed exclusively in dark linen clothes. The younger women dress in brighter colors, which are not in accordance with their dignity, or wealth. The men, on the other hand, wear hats similar to those worn by American cowboys and ride small Mongolian ponies.

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Religion

Upon the conquest of the Tibetan people, the Mosuo were forced to convert to Tibetan Buddhism. This can be evidenced from the fact that Buddhist Chortens can be found in their counties. They also do have their own Lamas, which conducts religious prayers for the community.

However, they have not given up the practice of worshipping Gan-Mu, one of their principal Goddesses. Upon the arrival of the mountain turning festival, the Mosuo community will gather and climb Mt. Gamu to pay their respects to Gan-Mu. Taoism has also exerted a significant influence as well.

The original animist religion, Daba, has also survived, with a few practicing shamans or Dabas still residing in the region.

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