The county is inhabited by several ethnic minorities, including the Miao, Yi, Gelao and Zhuang, who constitute approximately 80% of the county's population.[2]
History
Present-day Longlin was first incorporated into the Song dynasty in 1253, when it fell under the jurisdiction of Anlongdong as part of the Sicheng Prefecture [zh].[1] In 1402, the area was reorganized as Anlong Prefecture, until 1666, when it was again reorganized as Xilong Prefecture [zh].[1] Xilong Prefecture underwent administrative changes in 1729, but otherwise went unchanged until 1912, when the Republic of China was established and the area was reorganized as Xilong County.[1]
The area became part of the People's Republic of China in March 1950, and a communist-led local government was set up on March 18, 1950.[1] On January 1, 1953, the area was renamed from Xilong County to Longlin County.[1]
The county is home to six different groups of Miao people:[2][7]
Lopsided Miao (Chinese: 偏苗; pinyin: Piān Miáo), whose autonyms are Meng Sha (孟沙) and Meng Xia (孟夏)
Red Head Miao (红头苗; Hóngtóu Miáo), whose autonyms are Meng Lin (孟林), Meng Lun (孟论), Meng Ling (孟令), or Shou Lun (受论)
Clear Water Miao (清水苗; Qīngshuǐ Miáo), whose autonym is Meng Pu (蒙瀑)
White Miao (白苗; Bái Miáo), whose autonym is Meng Lou (孟漏)
Flower Miao (花苗; Huā Miáo), whose autonym is Meng Zou (孟邹)
Vegetable Miao (素苗; Sù Miáo), also known in Chinese as the Ginger Planing Miao (栽姜苗; Zāi Jiāng Miáo), the Zai River Miao (哉江苗; Zāi Jiāng Miáo), and the Zai Village Miao (哉庄苗; Zāi Zhuāng Miáo), and whose autonyms are Meng Jia Ka (孟加卡) and Meng Bai (孟拜)
Despite these different groups within the Miao populations of Longlin, all groups share similar ethnic origins.[2] The Miao People of Longlin County are believed to be native to Hubei and Hunan who migrated southwest towards Guizhou and Yunnan, and later arrived in the region during the late Ming dynasty and early Qing dynasty.[2] The probably reason for this migration appears connected to the Qing suppression of Miao uprisings in Guizhou and Xiangxi.[2] The Miao People of Longlin County have many cultural similarities to Miao populations found in Guizhou, including shared folklore, linguistic dialects, naming conventions, toponymy, rituals, and celebrations.[2]
Longlin is home to a considerable amount of Yi (autonym: ŋo³³pʰu²¹[9]), who historically lived in western Yunnan.[2] Historical documents from the Nanzhao State suggest that certain Yi populations left Yunnan to avoid inter-tribal violence.[2] Considerable Yi populations live in Xinzhou [zh], De'e, and Zhuchang Township [zh].[2] Within De'e, Yi people are concentrated in Agao (阿稿), Nadi (那地), Nongbao (弄保), Tangshi (塘石), and 10 other villages.[8] Yi are also found scattered across various villages in Yancha Township [zh], Zhelang Township [zh], and the former townships of Changfa and Kechang.[citation needed]
Gelao people
The county's Gelao people moved to the area from Guizhou during the early Qing dynasty, with local legends suggesting that the reason for this migration could have been conflict or famine.[2]
In May 1990, a group of people known as the Lai (徕), who moved to the area from Guizhou during the early Ming dynasty, were determined to be part of the Gelao people by the county government after a five-day hearing on the matter.[2] When the change was made in 1990, 978 people who were formerly classified as Lai in ethnicity were re-designated Gelao in ethnicity.[2]
As of 2019, the disposable income of the county's urban residents averages 32,508 Yuan, and the disposable income of the county's rural residents averages 9,972 Yuan.[13]
Culture
Each year, at the beginning of the lunar new year, a festival in the village of De'e is held, featuring the music and dance of the various ethnic groups who live in the area.[14] Each ethnic group also has its own traditions to celebrate the lunar new year, some of which are shared across multiple different groups.[2]
The county's different peoples also have festivals unique to their own ethnicity, as well as festivals shared across multiple different ethnicities, such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Third Festival.[2]
^ abcdefghij隆林概况 [Longlin Overview]. Guangxi Baise Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County People's Government Web Portal (in Chinese). 2019-12-30. Archived from the original on 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv人文景观 [Cultural Landscape]. Guangxi Baise Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County People's Government Web Portal (in Chinese). 2019-12-30. Archived from the original on 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
^ abcd行政区划 [Administrative Divisions]. Guangxi Baise Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County People's Government Web Portal (in Chinese). 2019-12-03. Archived from the original on 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
^ abc2019年统计用区划代码. stats.gov.cn (in Chinese). 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
^ ab隆林经济 [Economy of Longlin]. Guangxi Baise Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County People's Government Web Portal (in Chinese). 2020-06-19. Archived from the original on 2020-06-26. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
