The Ainis have an unparalleled passion for dressing among the ethnic groups
living in the mountain area in southern Yunnan Province, Southwest China.Our
visit to the Aini villages, in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, provided an
insight into the Ainis’unique costumes and the transitions under way in their
life.
We knew that seashells would be the most welcome gifts for the Aini people,
who have lived in the mountains for generations and never seen the ocean.
The pack of seashells we brought quickly helped us to get involved with local
life.
When we presented three seashells to our hostess, Api, in Pazhen Village,
a smile appeared on her wrinkled face. To show her gratitude, she showed us
the seashells she had kept for many years. Some of them were drilled and others
remained intact.
Api told us the drilled pieces were once used as ornaments while the intact
ones Ñ called “Tongxi” - had been a form of currency long before silver
and paper money were used.
The belts made of seashells and seeds of wild banana were the most impressive
adornments we found in the Aini villages.
The belts are family heirlooms passed on from generation to generation. The
patterns on the belts have different meanings Ñ shells strung in pairs
signify a family with sons, while those strung singly identify a family with
daughters.
A son takes his fatherÕs family name to keep the family line alive.
Aini people treasure seashells and believe they have magical powers.
‘Seashells are different from other ornaments. When we die, we can leave all
our belongings to our descendants except for the seashells,’ said Api.
It is said that when a man dies, he has to take with him three intact seashells
to stop evil from eating his soul. If he does not have the complete pieces,
he must take nine broken ones instead.
Sometimes the seashells are used as medicine by the Ainis, especially for
children.
“In a word, they have become a must-have for each Aini family,”concluded Api.Over
the past few decades, archaeologists have unearthed a large number of seashells
in ancient tombs in Yunnan dating back to more than 2,000 years. Studies show
these unearthed seashells were transported from the shore of the Pacific Ocean
to Yunnan via the Honghe and the Mekong River.
Historical records also prove seashells were widely used as currency from
about 700 BC to the 16th century.
