About Sichuan

A Brief Introduction to Sichuan

Located in southwestern China, Sichuan is a large province of 55 ethnic groups, amongst which 14 have lived there for over three generations. According to their respective populations (from the largest to the smallest), the 14 ethnic groups are the Yi, Tibetan, Qiang, Miao, Hui, Mongolian, Tujia, Lisu, Man, Naxi, Buyi, Bai, Zhuang and Dai. According to the statistics of the fifth nationwide population census conducted in 2000, the population of ethnic minorities in Sichuan is 4.15 million. Presently, three autonomous prefectures, namely Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Ganzi as well as Qiang and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, have already been founded in Sichuan.

The ethnic groups live in compact communities in Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Ganzi, Qiang and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Tibetan Autonomous County of Muli, Yi Antonymous County of Mabian, Yi Autonomous County of Ebian and Qiang Autonomous County of Beichuan. The ethnic groups live in a vast land of 302.1 thousand square kilometers, accounting for 60.14% of the whole territory of Sichuan. Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangzhou is China’s largest ghetto for the Yi people with a population of 1.81 million, China’s second largest ghetto for the Tibetans with a population of 1.22 million and China’s only ghetto for the Qiang people. Besides, there are altogether 18 cities for scattered ethnic groups. By the end of 2006, the population of scattered ethnic groups has reached over 800 thousand. And there are six autonomous counties and 92 autonomous villages that enjoy ethnic preferential policies.

Living in compact communities in Daliang and Xiaoliang Mountains as well as the Valley of Anning River, the Yi is the largest ethnic group in terms of population. The Yi is an old ethnic group with its own unique culture. The Yi people, being young or old, man or woman, all like to wear woolen felts, which are called “Cawaliang” in Chinese. The Yi people have developed their own language, writing characters and calendar. The Torch Festival, the most important festival for the Yi people, is annually held on June 24 in Chinese lunar calendar.

The Sichuan opera is rich in diversity and easy to understand with its various rhymes, humorous words and multifarious performances. Such stunts as face changing, spinning dances and fire-throwing (from the mouth) are incredible impressive. The Sichuan cymbal and acoustic sounds are the major artistic forms of the Sichuan opera. Xiangshu refers to a performance in which an actor hides behind a curtain and vividly mimics different sounds. The Sichuan comedies are rich in meanings, reflecting the social life of the local people.

Face changing is a stunt employed in creating characters in the Sichuan opera. It’s also a romantic way for revealing the inner emotions of the characters in the play.