Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Encyclopedia
Liangshan officially the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, is an autonomous prefecture in Sichuan
, south central China
whose capital is Xichang
. Liangshan has an area of 60,423 km² and over 4.5 million inhabitants (2010). It is also has the largest population of ethnic Yi people
in China.
Yi people came into Chinese and western history books as 罗罗 (Lolo) and 夷 in the beginning. After the Chinese Communist Party came into power in mainland China, the government changed the name from 罗罗 to 彝 since the old name was widely regarded as derogatory.
The appellations of Lolo, Lolopu, etc. are related to the Yi people’s worship of the tiger, as “lo” in their dialects means "tiger". "Lo" is also the basis for the Chinese exonym Luóluó 猓猓, 倮倮, or 罗罗. The original character 猓, with the "dog radical
" 犭and a guǒ 果 phonetic, was considered condescending, comparable to the Chinese name guǒran 猓然 "a long-tailed ape".
Languages reforms in the People’s Republic of China replaced the 猓 character in Luóluó twice: first by Luó 倮, with the "human radical
" 亻and the same phonetic, but that was a graphic variant for luǒ 裸 "naked"; and later by Luó 罗 "net for catching birds". However, the stigma remained and resulted in negative remarks when people of the prefecture visited other cities. So the government changed the name of the prefecture.
(Yangtze River headwaters), is the main river in the area.
Owing to its low latitude and high elevation, Liangshan has a mild climate. Under the Köppen system
, the prefecture belongs to the humid subtropical zone (Köppen
Cwa). Winters feature mild days and cool nights, while summers are very warm and humid. Monthly daily mean temperatures range from 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) in January to 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in July. Unlike much of the province, which lies in the Sichuan Basin
, humidity levels in winter are rather low, but like the rest of the province, rainfall is concentrated in the months of June through September, and the prefecture is virtually rainless in winter.
, 15 counties, and 1 autonomous county.
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, south central China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
whose capital is Xichang
Xichang
Xichang is a city in and the seat of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the south of Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. In 2004 it had a population of 126,700.-Geography:...
. Liangshan has an area of 60,423 km² and over 4.5 million inhabitants (2010). It is also has the largest population of ethnic Yi people
Yi people
The Yi or Lolo people are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering 8 million, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China...
in China.
Yi people came into Chinese and western history books as 罗罗 (Lolo) and 夷 in the beginning. After the Chinese Communist Party came into power in mainland China, the government changed the name from 罗罗 to 彝 since the old name was widely regarded as derogatory.
The appellations of Lolo, Lolopu, etc. are related to the Yi people’s worship of the tiger, as “lo” in their dialects means "tiger". "Lo" is also the basis for the Chinese exonym Luóluó 猓猓, 倮倮, or 罗罗. The original character 猓, with the "dog radical
Radical 94
Radical 94 meaning "dog" is 1 of 34 Kangxi radicals composed of 4 strokes.In the Kangxi Dictionary there are 444 characters to be found under this radical.- Characters with Radical 94:-External links:*...
" 犭and a guǒ 果 phonetic, was considered condescending, comparable to the Chinese name guǒran 猓然 "a long-tailed ape".
Languages reforms in the People’s Republic of China replaced the 猓 character in Luóluó twice: first by Luó 倮, with the "human radical
Radical 9
Radical 9 meaning "person" is one of 23 of the 214 Kangxi radicals that are composed of 2 strokes.In the Kangxi Dictionary there are 794 characters to be found under this radical.- Characters with Radical 9:- Literature :...
" 亻and the same phonetic, but that was a graphic variant for luǒ 裸 "naked"; and later by Luó 罗 "net for catching birds". However, the stigma remained and resulted in negative remarks when people of the prefecture visited other cities. So the government changed the name of the prefecture.
Terrain and climate
The Anling River, which runs into the Jinsha RiverJinsha River
Jinsha River is the westernmost of the major headwater streams of the Yangtze River, southwestern China.Its headwaters rise in the Wulan and Kekexili ranges in western Qinghai province, to the south of the Kunlun Mountains, and on the northern slope of the Tanggula Mountains on the border of the...
(Yangtze River headwaters), is the main river in the area.
Owing to its low latitude and high elevation, Liangshan has a mild climate. Under the Köppen system
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, the prefecture belongs to the humid subtropical zone (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cwa). Winters feature mild days and cool nights, while summers are very warm and humid. Monthly daily mean temperatures range from 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) in January to 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in July. Unlike much of the province, which lies in the Sichuan Basin
Sichuan basin
The Sichuan Basin is a lowland region in southwestern China. Despite its historical name, it is not only synonymous to Sichuan province, comprising its central and eastern portions as well as part of Chongqing Municipality...
, humidity levels in winter are rather low, but like the rest of the province, rainfall is concentrated in the months of June through September, and the prefecture is virtually rainless in winter.
Subdivisions
Liangshan directly controls one county-level cityCounty-level city
A county-level city is a county-level administrative division of mainland China. County-level cities are usually governed by prefecture-level divisions, but a few are governed directly by province-level divisions....
, 15 counties, and 1 autonomous county.
| Map | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Yi Yi language Nuosu , also known as Northern Yi, Liangshan Yi, and Sichuan Yi, is the prestige language of the Yi people; it has been chosen by the Chinese government as the standard Yi language and, as such, is the only one taught in school, both in its oral and written form... |
Population (2004 est.) |
Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
| 1 | Xichang City Xichang Xichang is a city in and the seat of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the south of Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. In 2004 it had a population of 126,700.-Geography:... |
西昌市 | Xīchāng Shì | ꀒꎂꏃ | 580,000 | 2,655 | 218 |
| 2 | Yanyuan County Yanyuan County Yanyuan County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
盐源县 | Yányuán Xiàn | ꋂꂿꑤ | 330,000 | 8,388 | 39 |
| 3 | Dechang County Dechang County Dechang County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
德昌县 | Déchāng Xiàn | ꄓꍣꑤ | 190,000 | 2,284 | 83 |
| 4 | Huili County Huili County Huili County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.The county was severely affected by the 2008 Panzhihua earthquake.... |
会理县 | Huìlǐ Xiàn | ꑌꄷꑤ | 440,000 | 4,527 | 97 |
| 5 | Huidong County | 会东县 | Huìdōng Xiàn | ꉼꄏꑤ | 370,000 | 3,227 | 115 |
| 6 | Ningnan County Ningnan County Ningnan County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
宁南县 | Níngnán Xiàn | ꆀꆆꑤ | 180,000 | 1,667 | 108 |
| 7 | Puge County Puge County Puge County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.-Tourist attractions:... |
普格县 | Pǔgé Xiàn | ꁌꐭꑤ | 140,000 | 1,905 | 73 |
| 8 | Butuo County Butuo County Butuo County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
布拖县 | Bùtuō Xiàn | ꀭꄮꑤ | 140,000 | 1,685 | 83 |
| 9 | Jinyang County Jinyang County Jinyang County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
金阳县 | Jīnyáng Xiàn | ꏁꇉꑤ | 150,000 | 1,587 | 95 |
| 10 | Zhaojue County Zhaojue County Zhaojue County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
昭觉县 | Zhāojué Xiàn | ꏪꐦꑤ | 230,000 | 2,699 | 85 |
| 11 | Xide County Xide County Xide County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
喜德县 | Xǐdé Xiàn | ꑝꅇꑤ | 150,000 | 2,206 | 68 |
| 12 | Mianning County Mianning County Mianning County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
冕宁县 | Miǎnníng Xiàn | ꍿꆈꑤ | 340,000 | 4,423 | 77 |
| 13 | Yuexi County Yuexi County, Sichuan Yuexi County, Sichuan is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
越西县 | Yuèxī Xiàn | ꃺꄧꑤ | 270,000 | 2,257 | 120 |
| 14 | Ganluo County Ganluo County Ganluo County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.... |
甘洛县 | Gānluò Xiàn | ꇤꇉꑤ | 190,000 | 2,156 | 88 |
| 15 | Meigu County Meigu County Meigu County is a part of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Located in the northeast part of Liangshan, it has a major concentration of the Nuosu or Yi people. The county is largely mountainous... |
美姑县 | Měigū Xiàn | ꂿꈬꑤ | 190,000 | 2,573 | 74 |
| 16 | Leibo County Leibo County Leibo County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Ayi Jihu, a singer signed to British company Shlepp Records, is from Leibo County.-References:... |
雷波县 | Léibō Xiàn | ꃀꁧꑤ | 240,000 | 2,932 | 82 |
| 17 | Muli Tibetan Autonomous County Muli Tibetan Autonomous County Muli Tibetan Autonomous County is in the Liangshan prefecture of Sichuan province in China. It is a remote, mountainous and forested region with few roads. The highest peaks are nearly 6000 metres in height... |
木里藏族 自治县 |
Mùlǐ Zàngzú Zìzhìxiàn |
ꃆꆹꀒꋤꊨꏦꏱꅉꑤ | 130,000 | 13,252 | 10 |
Ethnic groups in Liangshan, 2010 census
| Nationality | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Yi people Yi people The Yi or Lolo people are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering 8 million, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China... |
2,226,755 | 49.13% |
| Han Chinese Han Chinese Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the... |
2,155,357 | 47.55% |
| Tibetan Tibetan people The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan... |
60,679 (2000) | 1.49% (2000) |
| Mongols Mongols Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia... |
27,277 (2000) | 0.67% (2000) |
| Muslim Chinese Hui people The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's... |
18,385 (2000) | 0.45% (2000) |
| Miao Hmong people The Hmong , are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China... |
11,912 (2000) | 0.29% |
| Lisu | 9,121 (2000) | 0.22% (2000) |
| Buyei Buyei The Buyei are an ethnic group living in southern mainland China. Numbering 2.5 million, they are the 11th largest of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China... |
5,459 (2000) | 0.13% (2000) |
| Nakhi Nakhi The Nakhi are an ethnic group inhabiting the foothills of the Himalayas in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province, as well as the southwestern part of Sichuan Province in China.... |
5,199 (2000) | 0.13% (2000) |
| Others | 8,751 | 0.22% |