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(#4) There Are Some Key Western Concepts Missing From Their Language
The language of the Mosuo people, which is an oral tradition with no written form, does not include the words for husband, jealousy, rape, or murder. The absence of these words is very telling when it comes to their culture — there is a high level of respect among members of the community. Relationships between men and women are conducted with mutual respect and dignity, and crime is very minimal.
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(#11) The Village Is Located In An Isolated Yet Beautiful Part Of The Himalyan Foothills
The location of the Mosuo villages is said to be breathtaking. The community is situated on a high plateau in the Himalayan foothills, located between the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. It is said to be the same region "where the legend of Shangri-La was born." The 40,000 members of the Mosuo community live in villages that cling to the edge of Lugu Lake, where they have been for over 1,000 years.
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(#9) The Community Respects The Earth And Its Resources
The Mosuo have always been in touch with the land surrounding their isolated and beautiful villages. They are a farming culture, and have always been able to balance their population with what the land could give. Sadly, with the heavy influx of tourism in the last few decades their traditional way of life is becoming more and more out of sync with nature. Tourists bring trash, use up resources, and pollute the beautiful Lugu Lake.
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(#5) Households Can Hold Dozens Of People, None Of Whom Are Married To Each Other
The household structure of Mosuo families differs significantly from the Western nuclear family. Grandmothers are the family leaders, with all of their children and grandchildren living together in one large home. Once they are old enough, young women are given their own room in the house, so that they can host suitors in privacy. Young men can move away, but many stay at home and help care for the younger members of the family. As large as the family may be, all of the members are related by blood, and never through marriage.
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(#6) Tourism Is Quickly Eroding Their Culture
Tourism to Lugu Lake didn't really begin until the 1980s, and until the 1990s, foreigners were not allowed to visit. The increase in tourism has brought a new source of income to the Mosuo people, and many families have begun to earn significantly more money by having members participate in nightly "barn dances" for tourists, working as tour guides, or running hotels.
Sadly, there is a downside to the increased tourism. The tiny region is now flooded with noise and garbage, with the higher number of people putting a strain on the natural environment. Some visitors also drastically misinterpret the idea of the "walking marriage," making passes at local women. Geze Duoji, a local guide, jokingly told NPR that they have to "beat up" some tourists who misbehave and try to take advantage.
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(#7) Women Are The Leaders Of The Family On Paper As Well As In Practice
When it comes to leadership in their homes, Mosuo women are the head of the household both in practice and on paper. Unlike in many other parts of the world, women are considered intellectually superior to men. They are the ones who own property, control inheritance rights, and make all domestic decisions for their family. However, in public life men hold a large number of political positions — and this is because they find it easier to have male members of the Mosuo community deal with the mostly male leaders of the rest of China.
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China has 56 ethnic groups, and almost every ethnic group has its own unique culture and customs, language or script. The Mosuo people have lived on the banks of the beautiful Lugu Lake in Lijiang City for generations, they still retain the ethnic culture of the matriarchal society. This small village is entirely run by women and has its own national language but no writing. Walking marriage is the most representative marriage custom of the Mosuo people.
Until now, the family form of matriarchy still remains on the shore of Lugu Lake, the Mosuo people are called the mysterious daughter country. This is one of the most mysterious and interesting Mosuo cultures that Chinese and foreign scholars and tourists find. The generator will help to know more about this Chinese village.
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