An insight into the Ancient Li culture of Hainan
The Li people are the largest indigenous group living on the Island of Hainan; they have been living on the island for over 3000 years, during which time they have imprinted an indelible human presence on the island that still thrives today.
Believed to be the earliest settlers of Hainan and with a current population of over one million scattered throughout the mountain regions of the Island, they remain a vibrant and integral part of the islands alluring culture and continued history.
The Li ethnic group consists of five branches: the Qi, Ha, Run, Sai and Meifu. Their ancestors can be traced back to the Luoyue people - a branch of the ancient Baiyue tribe that once lived nomadically throughout Southern China. Long before the Qin and Han came to control the majority of China, the ancient ancestors of the Li people immigrated to Hainan from the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. At first, they lived primarily in the monticule and mesa areas near the gulfs and rivers, however they gradually moved and settled throughout the various parts of the Island, particularly throughout the mountainous regions. The name Li comes from "Liliao" which was a name given to them during the Sui dynasty, the name was subsequently changed to "Li" during the Song Dynasty and has remained ever since. The Li however refer to themselves as the "Sai" people.
Known for possessing the earliest weaving technology in Chinese history, the Li contributed enormously to the rise of silk weaving technology and the production of fine silk garments throughout China. Li women are incredibly skilled at spinning and weaving and are especially adept at weaving silk cotton. The silk brocade's that they produce are famous around the world and are renowned for their quality and elegance. As early as the 5th century AD, Li textile technology reached a considerably high level, they were already spinning and weaving clothes and the exquisite brocades that we see today. So advanced and skilled were the Li that in the 133h century Huang Daopo, a textile expert from Wunijing (Modern day Shanghai) traveled to Hainan and learnt the skills of weaving from the Li people. She returned to her native home and spread the technology and techniques of the Li throughout China vastly improving the quality of the Chinese textile industry.
Most Li people still practice the traditional religions that have been passed down through generations, including ancestor worship, and praying to the earth gods and spirits. They believe the spirits of their ancestors have the ability to protect them. A key aspect of Li culture is music and festivals; singing in particular is a major aspect of any Li celebration. Their folk songs are particularly unique and usually containing a structure of three, five, seven and nine word sentences. Music is also seen as a way of connecting with the spirits, very often women working in the fields will sing as they work, as it is believed that this is a way to connect with the spirits and that as a result they will help protect crops. They also have a number of different kinds of musical instruments, most popular of which are bamboo flutes, some of which can be played either by the mouth or nose.
Like a number of South East Asian cultures an important aspect of Li culture was Tattooing and particularly facial tattooing. The origins of tattooing stems from an ancient legend passed down from their earliest ancestors. The mother of the first Li child sadly died shortly after childbirth and it is believed that her child was then fed and sustained by a, hoopoe bird (a native of the island) that fed the baby grain and water. As such the women of the Li tribes tattoo patterns on their bodies to remain as colourful as the hoopoe and please their ancestors. Traditionally at around age 13 or 14 girls were tattooed on the nape of their neck, then over the face and throat. Over a period of around 3-4 years they would also have their arms and legs covered. The process involved piercing the skin with a thorn, and then rubbing a mix of soot, ink and water into the wound, which would create the pattern. The tattoos were used to symbolise that a women was eligible to marry and also that she was now seen as an adult within the tribe. Each pattern was different on each woman, and it was believed that these allowed her to be more easily recognised by her ancestors in the afterlife. Unfortunately you are unlikely to see many of these amazing and beautiful traditional tattoos, as the practice largely ceased after the Chinese revolution along with a number of ancient customs.
With over 3000 years worth of history on the Island the Li are a fascinating people and continue to add to the rich cultural tapestry that is Hainan. A visit to the Li-Miao village just 30 kilometres from Sanya is a must for any traveller and is an amazing opportunity to experience this ancient people and their magnificent culture.