Holy Mountain

MOSUO "MATRIARCHAL" PEOPLES' TERRITORY

Lugu Lake

Island with Temple

The principles of Mosuo social structure have been extensively elaborated on page 1. Unfortunately for many it was written in German. To have it translated in the short run you may try Google Translation Service. In the mean time I will give some summaries in English

MeiMei

Daily stroll of Old Women
(Grandmothers)

SUMMARY OF MOSUO FAMILY STRUCTURE

Clans are organized according to the female lineage. Grandma is the head. She decides in important cases. Wealth, possession and money are in the hands of the women. Men get pocketmoney. For bigger spendings ("a new motorbike") men have to ask permission + money from Grandma.

Together with one of the Elderly Uncles

A hostel

The most important male is Grandma's brother ("Elderly Uncle"). He is responsible for men affairs. Especially the education of children is his territory

Man demonstrating climbing the wall to his beloved

Amazing, isn't it?

Relationships between women and men are based on love and freedom of choice. Men have to do effort to conquer the heart of a woman. Women have a room of themselves where they receive their lover. Relationships may change, long term ones seem to be preferred. However, women can reject a man any time. Men sleep either in a dormitory or (the oldest) have a small room of themselves. Both in the house of their maternal family. At night most go out to spend the night with their lover, but have to be back before sunrise

MeiMei already "impressed" by my call to her!

There exist a collective responsibility with regard to the children. The latter belong to the clan. Biological fathers have no special rights e.g. are often not known. However, in recent times there are some monogamous families in the villages

The main street along the shore of the lake.

The Lotus as the symbol of the Cosmic Womb

The gate of our host's house

Women and men share the work equally. Women also work on the land. Only where muscle power is needed the men take over. Other areas where men take the lead are herding and fishing, traditional healing /"Dada") and political administration of the larger area, extra-territorial activities e.g. trade with the outside world and religion. While in ancient times the Goddess might have been prominent, Mosuo have accepted (patriarchal!) Buddhism as their faith  The "symbol with the breasts" has little to do with matriarchy ( as suggested in the book "Matriarchy in Southern China" of H.Göttner Abendroth) but represents the "auspicious sign of the chakravarta (or God/King).... a symbol that originally may have had a link to the MotherGoddess, but for centuries being the dominent motif of the lama's.(LINK: Bön-Tibetan Buddhism) .

Grandmothers' House

The lady, the home altar and the stove. More pictures about the Mosuo house on the LINK Kunming page

We were tremendously lucky to be able to visit the oldest Grandmother of the Mosuo, the GrandGrandmother so to speak.

Son and Daughter Pillar in Grandmothers' room. They apparently are equally valued! Grandmother said: our house "rests on the sons and the daughters"

Religious shrine with oven, the sacred place for the Mosuo

"Our" lady encircling it with her prayer mill

Igniting the (holy) fire

The daily! evening dance. We had the impression that the ladies weren't that enthusiastic and moreover, they weren't very young anymore. The younger probably seek different aims in life. The decay might greatly be influenced by commercialism (imposed on the Mosuo by the government). Very soon only folklore for tourists is left

How a failed photo has its own charm

Anyway, we were happy to be there having the unique opportunity to at least have some impression how it once was.

The second round of the dance where spectators could join. I also did it. MeiMei has it on video. It will be put on youtube soon.

Really too much "honor"