Early in the Ming Dyansty, in the late 14th century, some military units from the area of Nanjing were sent to Guizhou, bringing their families. Their descendants still form a distinct group known as the "Old Han," and preserve some elements of 14th century Nanjing-area culture. We visited the Old Han village of Jichang, a couple of miles from (I think southwest from) the town of Pingba, in Pingba xian, Guizhou.
This boy, whom I saw beating a drum during the ceremony to welcome us to the village,
later also was encouraged to involved himself in the
street opera performance.
An impressive ceremonial greeting for our arrival.
The local stone was often in thin layers, usable as roofing slates.
Thicker slabs were used like bricks.
New house under construction, mostly brick, part stone.
Woman with child.
Stones and bricks ready for construction.
I believe this had originally been the ancestral temple. It had apparently been converted to other
uses. It seemed to have been, at best, partially converted back. It had some images in it, but they did not
appear recently to have been refurbished, and no ancestral tablets
were in sight.
The temple also contained the kitchen where the excellent lunch served to us was prepared.
This building, which housed the Communist Party office, the family planning office, and some
other things, was where they served us lunch.
Portrait of Chairman Mao, on the wall of the Communist Party office. The flag on the left, with the hammer
and sickle, is that of the Chinese Communist Party. The flag on the right, with the five stars, is that of
the People's Republic of China.
Statistical table on numbers of children, in the family planning office.
Street Opera (Old Han village)
Copyright © 2005, Edwin E. Moïse. Revised October 20, 2022.