Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented
in Chinese,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian and Spanish.
Greetings, blessed viewers,
and welcome to
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
In 1933, British author
James Hilton published
a best-selling novel
titled “Lost Horizon.”
The book portrays
a peaceful paradise
in a little-known territory
of eastern Tibetan
mountains called
“Shangri-La,” where
people enjoy a carefree life
and incredible longevity.
The manuscript was
believed to be inspired
by the travel logs
of botanist Joseph Rock,
who stayed in Lijiang
in Yunnan Province
of China to study the
unusual flora of the area.
Today, in part one
of a two-part series,
please join us
for a journey
to this amazing utopia
and experience
its ethereal beauty.
Lijiang is nestled in
the northwestern mountains
of Yunnan where
the Tibetan Highlands
transition into
the lower-lying
Yungui Plateau.
The high level
of geotectonic activities
of the region
has over the years
sculpted a rugged terrain
with alternating
high mountains
and deep valleys.
Three major rivers of Asia
pass through this area.
They are Changjiang
(Yangtze River),
Mekong River,
and Salween River.
The Three Parallel Rivers
of Yunnan Protected Areas
is a United Nations
Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
World Heritage Site
that features
awe-inspiring sceneries and
tremendous biodiversity.
Flowing in from
the northwestern mountains,
Changjiang, the world’s
third longest river,
takes a sharp V-turn,
then heads
towards the northeast.
The turn is also called
“the First Bend
of Changjiang.”
According to folklore,
Salween, Mekong,
and Yangtze were
three traveling sisters.
When they reached
the Lijiang area,
Salween and Mekong
decided to go south,
while Yangtze preferred
to head towards
where the sun rises.
Therefore, she made
a resolute turn and
never saw her sisters again.
Today the three sisters
are the life-giving rivers
of Myanmar (Burma),
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia,
Âu Lạc (Vietnam),
and China.
A few kilometers
on her solo journey
heading northeast,
Changjiang meets
the famous
Tiger Leaping Gorge,
where the roaring Yangtze
gushes through
15 kilometers
of a narrow path
between the southerly
Jade Dragon
Snow Mountain
and the northerly
Baha Snow Mountain,
both measured at over
5,000 meters in height.
With snow peaks,
verdant forests,
and steep valley,
Tiger Leaping Gorge
is among the world’s
deepest gorges.
Folk story has it
that a tiger jumped
across the gap
to escape peril;
hence the place
got its name.
With the shortest distance
between the craggy banks
at 25 meters
and a flow rate of 70,000
cubic meters per second,
the rapids
at Tiger Leaping Gorge
are among the fastest
on the planet.
Further north
on the other side of
the Baha Snow Mountain
is another amazing
spectacle of nature –
the White Water Terrace.
Here white sandstones
form multiple levels
of perfectly flat platforms
with raised vertical edges.
Crystal-clear water fills
each level of the terrace,
reflecting
the entrancing blue sky.
These unique features are
of a geological formation
called travertine,
which occurs at fault lines
where mineral-rich water
oozes out
from geothermal springs.
Under special
underground conditions,
the originally alkaline water
is supersaturated
with carbon dioxide.
Upon emergence,
carbon dioxide is
released from the water,
resulting in reduced acidity
and decreased solubility
of carbonate minerals.
Over time,
calcium carbonate
precipitants from the water
form flat
sedimentary terraces.
Standing next to
the spectacular structures,
one can’t help
but be in tremendous awe
of nature’s greatness.
Equally magnificent are
the many rice terraces,
which can be readily seen
from the road.
The local people
have harvested
from these extensive,
perfectly engineered paddies
for over a thousand years.
During the sowing season,
viewed from a high mount
on a sunny day,
each patch of rice terrace
is like a piece
of glittering mirror
flawlessly fitted
into a mosaic
of nature’s painting.
Between
the Tiger Leaping Gorge
and Lijiang city
is the renowned
Jade Dragon
Snow Mountain,
to which many folk songs
sing praises.
Its snowcap is actually
a glacier
whose melting water
feeds the fairytale city
of 1.2 million inhabitants.
Lijiang has at least
800 years of history.
In early Yuan Dynasty,
it was developed into
a flourishing meeting point
for caravans that traveled
between China and Tibet
and India.
The trading route that
passes Lijiang, is called
the Old Tea Horse Road.
It originated
from the Pu’er region
of Yunnan,
which is world-famous
for its Pu’er tea.
For about five centuries
during the Yuan, Ming
and Qing Dynasties,
Lijiang was
under the governance
of the Mu family,
a local commander
of the Naxi ethnicity.
The Mu Mansion located at
the southwestern corner
of the Old Town of Lijiang
is a well-preserved
traditional garden
that combines the best
architectural elements
of Tang, Song,
and Ming Dynasties
with the Naxi tradition
of intricate
running waterways
and exotic floras.
The main buildings
include the Meeting Hall,
the Ten Thousand
Scroll Hall,
the Inner Meeting Hall,
the Building of Light,
and Building of Sound,
San Qing Hall,
and a worship hall.
The layout
of Lijiang Old Town
is distinct
from other traditional
Chinese-style cities
in that it does not
have a city wall.
Behind this, there is
an interesting story
of the Mu family.
The Chinese character
of “Mu,” when placed
inside a frame,
gives rise to the character
“predicament.”
For this reason,
the governors from
the Mu family, decided
not to build a city wall
in order to have
an auspicious geomancy.
The Old Town of Lijiang
is also called “Dayan.”
For centuries,
it has been a regional
political, cultural,
and educational center.
The continuing prosperity
of the city can be seen
from its well-maintained
layout and
immaculate architecture.
Standing
on a higher vantage point
in the city, one gets
a wonderful view
of the Jade Dragon
Snow Mountain.
Another
eye-pleasing feature
is the neatly tiled roofs
which decorate
the entire urban area.
The city is accessible
only by foot.
Meandering streets
are cobbled with
local bluestones and lined
with traditional buildings
and interesting craft shops.
The center
of the Old Town
is called the Sifang Street.
It is an open square
with four major avenues
extending to
the four directions.
Typical houses
have engraved
doors and windows,
as well as a garden
with local vegetations.
Among
the landmark structures
are the Dabao Palace,
Dading Pavilion,
Glazed Hall,
Five Phoenix Chamber,
and the House of Eternity.
The most unique features
of the city
are the waterways
running by the side
of every street,
with intermittent
swaying willows.
These ancient aqueducts
measure
several meters wide
and supply water to
each household of the city.
The water mainly comes
from one source –
the Black Dragon Pool
of the Jade Spring Park.
The park was built
in the Qing Dynasty
during the reign
of Emperor Qianlong.
A popular scenery
which appears
on many postcards
of Lijiang is the view
of the Black Dragon Pool
reflecting the snowcap
of the Jade Dragon
Snow Mountain,
the Moonshine Building,
and the Five-Arch Bridge.
The extensive network
of canals makes it
necessary to have
a large number of bridges
to connect the streets.
The 350 bridges of Lijiang
have various
elegant designs
and create a cityscape
with an inspirational
exquisiteness.
The town is sometimes
known as the “Suzhou
in the Highland” and
the “Oriental Venice.”
The water supply system
of this historical city
was engineered
with a carefully
thought-out plan
that enables scientific
utilization of water.
To avoid
cross-contamination,
every public well
of the city
has three openings:
one for consumption,
one for cleaning fruits
and vegetables, and
one for washing clothes.
Every night, a floodgate
at a central high point
of the town is opened
to release water
to flush all the streets,
so that in the morning,
citizens and tourists
wake up and enjoy a clean
and fresh environment
during the day.
Water is also used
to power watermills.
Besides the large antique
wooden waterwheel
at the center of the city,
some family-run
small watermills
are practically built and
still used to grind grains.
If the nature and
architecture of Lijiang
are a feast for the eyes,
then the simple, happy,
and contented way of life
will leave one
with a lasting memory.
In 1997,
the Old Town of Lijiang
was inscribed
as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
for being an “exceptional
ancient town set
in a dramatic landscape
which represents
the harmonious fusion of
different cultural traditions
to produce
an urban landscape
of outstanding quality.”
Please join us tomorrow
for part two
of the two-part series
on wondrous Lijiang,
when we will meet
the charming inhabitants
of this idyllic “lost horizon”
and hear their special
messages to humanity.
Happy viewers,
thank you
for your gentle company
with us on today’s
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms.
Up next
on Supreme Master
Television is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
May you find
heavenly qualities
in all aspects of your life.
Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented
in Chinese,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian and Spanish.
The cuckoo sings in March.
All flowers blossom around
Lisu’s mountain cottages.
How cheerful
the Lisu children are!
How joyful
the Lisu ladies are!
How happy
the Lisu people are!
How prosperous the Lisu
mountain households are!
Hallo, angelic viewers,
and welcome to
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
In yesterday’s program,
we visited Lijiang,
a well-preserved
ancient town
of Yunnan, China,
and explored her natural
and architectural wonders.
Today, in the second part
of this two-part series,
please meet
the friendly residents
of this beautiful city.
Lijiang is home
to 12 of the 55
ethnic minority groups
of China, who account
for approximately 60% of
the city’s total population.
In particular, Lijiang is
the cultural capital
of the Naxi people.
The gentle Naxi people
originated in Tibet and
settled in the current area
over 1400 years ago
with agriculture as their
main means of livelihood.
Traditionally, they are
a matriarchal society.
Women play central roles
in family and tribal affairs.
They are also the
main laborers and heirs
through a maternal lineage.
The native tongue
of the Naxi people is
the world’s only remaining
pictographic language.
It is written
in Dongba script
or Geba script.
There are more than 1,400
individual characters
in use.
The word “Dongba”
means “knowledgeable
Naxi elders.”
These respected members
of the community
are proficient
in astronomy, geography,
agriculture, handicrafts,
as well as herbal medicine.
Since the beginning
of the Dongba language
more than 1000 years ago,
a rich repertoire
of Naxi literature
has been generated,
recording Naxi civilization
advances in religion,
folklore, science, and arts.
The Naxi’s classical music,
Dongjing, is a form
of Taoist ritual music
and uses traditional
Chinese instruments.
The melodies are said
to be relaxing to the mind
and cleansing to the soul.
Naxi folk singing and
dancing are impromptu
and widely performed.
They express
the Naxi people’s love
and appreciation
of their simple life.
Let’s enjoy
a group dance called
“Let’s Dance Happily.”
Let’s dance happily,
let’s dance happily!
Let’s dance happily!
Let’s dance happily,
let’s dance happily!
Today is auspicious!
Today is auspicious,
today is auspicious!
Let’s share
today’s blessings!
Let’s share
today’s blessings,
let’s share
today’s blessings!
A mountain spring flows
behind our house.
A mountain spring flows
behind our house;
a mountain spring flows
behind our house.
We feel as excited
as the spring!
We happily gather together,
we happily gather together.
Naxi women’s
traditional costume
includes a wide-sleeved
loose gown over pants,
topped with a waistcoat
and an apron.
Floral embroidery
is common, highlighting
collars, sleeves, the front,
and shoes.
Naxi women use
a large backpack basket.
It is not uncommon
to see them
with a basket of freshly
harvested vegetables
to sell on the streets.
Lisu is another
agricultural ethnicity
with a significant presence
in Lijiang.
They also originated
in the eastern
Tibetan Highlands
and are known for
their openness, honesty,
and independence.
Lisu tribes follow
a patrilineal system
with each tribe
adopting a last name
after a plant or an animal.
Traditional Lisu costumes
are among the most
colorful in the region.
We belong to
the Lisu tribe in
the Laojun Mountain area.
The person next to me
is wearing
the traditional costume of
the Lisu tribe in this area.
This is a whole set
of our summer clothing.
This jacket is light.
This hat is very unique.
The flowers on the hats
for the ladies
are embroidered by hand.
The flowers
represent young ladies.
The beads in the back also
have symbolic meanings.
There are five beads
on this hat.
And a ten-bead hat
symbolizes
the four principles and
five virtues of a woman.
Look at the bead pendant
in the front;
it is made with
Lisu tribe’s special stones.
The Lisu ladies
adore this decoration.
Now look at the bag
she wears;
it is purely handmade.
If a Lisu lady is in love
with a gentleman,
she will send
such a bag to him.
Now look at this skirt.
Most skirts are
pleated skirts in black,
white or red flowery ones.
We mostly wear black tops
with the skirts.
The most popular clothing
worn by Lisu gentlemen
is made of flax –
top and gown –
which symbolizes
their hard work, bravery,
and kindness.
Now look at this bag.
A bag with this color
is called
“octagonal flower.”
If a gentleman is in love
with a lady, he will send
such a bag to the lady.
For the lower part
of the body now
look at some trousers.
Mostly they are
black and white –
or all black.
This one is more unique;
it is made with
folk-style strips.
Generally,
four colors are used to
match with one another.
We of the Lisu tribe
have long been called
“the sun-chasing tribe”
and the ancient migration
was always to the west.
Therefore,
at the sleeve openings
of the gentlemen
a sun symbol
is always embroidered,
and the moon pattern
in the middle
represents ladies.
Our tribe values women
the same as men.
Like the Naxi people,
Lisus are lovers
of music and dance.
They have invented
amazing folk instruments
such as the gourd sheng,
the oval lute,
and the two-string lute.
The musical instrument
in my hand
is a Hulu Sheng, a
free-reed wind instrument
similar to the Sheng.
This is a traditional
Lisu instrument.
Now I will play a song
for you.
This is a unique
musical instrument
of the Lisu tribe
called the Oval Pipa.
In the Lisu language
it is called a “Qi-Me.”
It can be played
by both men and women.
This is a unique
Lisu musical instrument
called “Chi-Che”
or two-string violin.
Brothers, sisters,
we finally
have met each other today.
We finally
have met each other now.
Our affinity
has brought us together.
We gather together happily;
we will stay
with each other, just like
bees and flowers do.
How happy! How happy!
How happy!
For the romantic Lisus,
even a piece of leaf
can be used
to play love songs.
My beloved girl,
why are you
blowing the leaves?
I miss only you,
my beloved boy.
I miss only you,
my beloved boy.
The tranquil life of Naxi,
Lisu and other
native peoples of Lijiang
is connected to
their respect to nature.
The core message
of the Dongba Sutra
is nature worship
and preservation
of the environment.
It is forbidden to fell a tree
or kill an animal.
We wish all people
good health, all good luck
and longevity.
We promote
a vegetarian diet
without animal products.
May world peace come
and may the planet
be protected.
We Lisu people adore
the mountains and forests.
We love this place.
We are very happy
and in high spirits.
May our mountains
and forests be better
and better preserved!
Please try your best to
keep a plant-based diet
when you come
to our beautiful land.
Please protect animals
and stop eating meat.
We thank our wonderful
Naxi and Lisu hosts
for kindly sharing your
marvelous life-honoring
culture with us.
May your beautiful example
inspire many
to rediscover their
original God-like purity.
Contented viewers,
thank you
for your presence
on today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Up next is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
following
Noteworthy News.
Let us pray that
a peaceful vegan world
will soon grace our planet.