MY STORY AND PHOTOS OF MY 2 VISITS IN SOUTH - WEST CHINA : YUNNAN - TIBET PROVINCE - SHANGRI-LA - HIMALAYA Photographing and talking to people (minorities) living there. Also the tibetan people and buddhists.
The Tibetan people, buddhists and minorities (Naxi) in Himalaya - Tibet. Photography & Videos
I will try to share and give my understanding, enormous admiration and respect for the world famous minorities (Naxi people), tibetan people and buddhists in this article with photo gallery. A modern and material society of people that still in 2023, manage to live in harmony with nature. Naxi people with Dongba religion, culture and tibetan people and buddhists with their religion and culture. They living high into the mountains (Himalaya). (Their holy mountains).
WHY?
The Naxi people, an ethnic minority group residing in the Yunnan province of southwestern China. They traditionally inhabit the foothills of the Himalayas, an area characterized by stunning landscapes, including lush forests, flowing rivers, and majestic mountains. Living in such a natural environment has deeply influenced their way of life, fostering a strong connection to the land and a harmonious coexistence with nature. The Naxi people have a unique cultural history that reflects their harmonious relationship with nature.
THEY EMBRACE ALL LIVING THING
The Naxi culture is closely linked to that of the Tibetan people, as both groups share certain geographical and historical ties. Still in 2023, they all have enormous respect for the nature.The Naxi people also hold a deep spiritual connection to nature, often incorporating elements of Tibetan Buddhism into their belief system. Tibetan Buddhism, with its reverence for the natural world and emphasis on the interconnectedness of all living beings, has played a significant role in shaping the Naxi worldview. Rituals, ceremonies, and festivals often celebrate the cycles of nature and express gratitude for the earth's abundance. They prohibits the killing of animals and advocates compassion towards the environment. Despite the modernization and changes in lifestyle that have occurred over time. They have proved that they still manage to have control and balance between a premodern past (a world inhabited by spirits, magic, etc) and a modern present/future (a world seemingly dominated by materialism, development, self-gratification, etc). Naxi and tibetan people have preserved many aspects of their traditional way of life. Their close relationship with nature continues to influence their daily practices, cultural expressions, and spiritual beliefs, reflecting a harmonious coexistence with the natural world. Buddhism told that we must embrace all living things "as a mother cares for her son, her only son.
FREEDOM FOR TIBET AND ENVIRONMENT
However, it's important to note that the preservation of this harmony is facing challenges due to factors such as urbanization, environmental changes, and shifts in societal structures. Efforts to balance modernization with the preservation of cultural and environmental values are ongoing among the Naxi people and other indigenous communities worldwide. Tibet has been a region of historical and political significance, and there have been big concerns about the impact of Chinese policies on the region's environment and culture. Critics argue that certain development projects, such as infrastructure and mining, may have adverse effects on the local ecosystem and traditional ways of life. Constantly hunger for more use of natural resources. The government and modern world tries to make it difficult for them and they have to "fight" for their lives. Also their nature and their lifestyles and religion. Yunnan province has rich biodiversity. It is known for its diverse ethnic groups and ecosystems. There have been concerns about the environmental impact of various development projects, including hydropower dams, in the region. UNESCO, THE WORLD’S “GENE BANK,” AND THE DAMMING OF TIBETAN RIVERS
UNESCO World Heritage site–Lijiang Old Town
The old town is famous for the colorful culture and lifestyle of the Naxi and Bai people who live there, as well as for its winding lanes and wooden bridges connecting the small alleys to quaint courtyard homes. Lijiang sits on a strategic fertile basin at about 2,400 meters. The basin is surrounded by high mountains, dominated by the 5,500 metre main peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The Dongba religion (and ‘religion’ is used in a very general sense as an organised system of belief). That is one of the treasures of Naxi culture Dongba religion became the touchstone by which the Naxi people judged their spiritual life, morality, ethics and so forth. The ‘Dongba’ is a major religious ‘priest’ or ‘shaman’ figure, exclusively a male occupation (women had other roles as spiritual mediums). Dongba script, religion is an important carrier of the ancient civilization of Naxi people and is still maintaining up to today, being taken as the only living pictograph in the world used on a daily basis.
NAXI RELIGION - SPIRITUAL LIFE - USE THE ONLY LIVING PICTOGRAPH IN THE WORLD - ALL LIFEORMS HAVE IN UNIVERSE HAS SPIRIT
The Dongba religion (and ‘religion’ is used in a very general sense as an organised system of belief). That is one of the treasures of Naxi culture Dongba religion became the touchstone by which the Naxi people judged their spiritual life, morality, ethics and so forth.The ‘Dongba’ is a major religious ‘priest’ or ‘shaman’ figure, exclusively a male occupation (women had other roles as spiritual mediums). Dongba script, religion is an important carrier of the ancient civilization of Naxi people and is still maintaining up to today, being taken as the only living pictograph in the world used on a daily basis. Dongba religion became the touchstone by which the Naxi people judged their spiritual life, morality, ethics and so forth. The Dongba religion at its core is the worship of heaven-nature. It believes that all the myriad lifeforms in the universe have a spirit.
BUDDHISTS
The widely spreading Buddhism in Yunnan includes three divisions, namely Hynayana (Small Wheel or Southern Buddhism), Mahayana (Big Wheel or Chinese Buddhism) and Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism) among which, in China, Hynayana can only be found in Yunnan Province.
I will invite you to embark on a visual odyssey through the untouched beauty of Tibets landscapes, the cultural and naturally richness of Tibet's minorities, buddhists and the awe-inspiring mountains of Southwest China.
4K-Videos - Slideshows
Trond Johansen Sarpsborg Norway Nature Photo / Video Wildlife & Landscape Photographer / Videographer
TIBET - HIMALAYA - PHOTO SLIDESHOW - VIDEO 4k
STORY AND PHOTOS FROM MY 2 VISITS IN TIBET - HIMALAYA
THEY STILL IN 2025, MANAGE TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
Tibet: Harmony with Nature Still Today & Mindfulness & Mountains | Buddhist Wisdom in the Heart of the Himalayas
4K Video - Tibet: The Land of Buddhism & Mindfulness | Himalayan Peace