The Buyi people are a minority of China. They live in Qiannan, Xingyi, and in the Quijing prefecture of the country. They have been considered a minority in this country since around 900A.D. China recognizes these people as a separate and unique culture from their own. The Buyi people live in the plains and on mountain slopes. They also live in a mild climate which greatly affects their lives in many ways including nutrition and life expectancy.
The mild climate which they live in contributes to their ability to produce two crops a year. Their staple foods are rice and wheat but they are also known to enjoy fish, poultry and pork. They also have vegetable and fruit crops. Rice-wine is another product they produce and consume much of.
The Buyi are sheltered in homes usually made of stone with roofs of thatch. Sometimes their homes are two-storied. In this case the people will live upstairs and their livestock will have shelter downstairs. Recently, the people have been making more money which provides them with the ability to upgrade their homes to brick with tile roofs.
The Buyi live in extended family units. Their courtship practices are public and their affection is often shown through song. The young people are free to choose whomever they want for marriage. After a couple is married the young woman continues to live with her family until the arrival of her first child.
A report on health care for the Buyi gave the statistic that for every 23,000 Buyi, there is one doctor. Because of the lack of adequate health care the Buyi people suffer from the highest infant mortality rate in China and a life expectancy of only 43 years. Because of the environment they live in, they also suffer or have suffered from diseases that are common to that climate including malaria, hepatitis, and small pox. The government has apparently eliminated these diseases.
The Buyi are known for their dying techniques. They just recently formed their written language in the last century with help from some French Catholics.
Their religion includes Taoism and animism.
These people have a very colorful and musical culture that is still very strong and apparent.
References:
The Buyi People. China Source http://www.chsource.org/Buyi.htm 21 Feb. 2003
Buyi. China Charm http://www.chinacharm.net/images/ChineseDolls/htm/Buyi.htm
Written by Erin Griffin, 2003