Ecological Wisdom in Naxi Dongba Manuscripts and Its Contemporary Value
This article surveys the ecological knowledge embedded in Naxi Dongba manuscripts -- covering agriculture, textile production, wine-brewing, and traditional medicine -- and draws out the underlying ecological philosophy. Origin myths recorded in the Dongba scriptures describe farming, irrigation, sheep-raising, weaving, and medicinal-plant use, reflecting the Naxi ancestors' long adaptation to their mountain environment. The author identifies four core ecological concepts in the texts: the unity of humanity and nature, framed as a fraternal but conditional relationship with the nature-spirit Shu; reverence for nature expressed through debt-repayment rituals; restrained, moderate use of natural resources reinforced by historical forest- and water-protection customs and steles; and the intrinsic value of biodiversity illustrated through animal-human reciprocity stories. The article argues these traditional ecological concepts hold direct contemporary relevance for biodiversity conservation, ecological civilization construction, rural revitalization, and sustainable development in the Lijiang region today.
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