Kunming is the capital of Yunnan. Yunnan is the most southwestern province
in China. It shares border with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Together with
Guangxi, Guizhou and Sichuan, Yunnan has many non-Han ethnic groups, some of
them practise a form of Theravada Buddhism.
The largest of these groups are the Zhuang people, who mainly practise
traditional religion. This group forms the largest minority in China, far
outnumbering the better known Mongolians and Tibetans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuang
Another significant group in this part of China is the Hmong people, who are
also spread across Indochina, where they originated. Hmong is the fourth
largest minority in China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmong_people
Yet, another large group is the Yi people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yi_people
Although China is now communist, Chinese culture is very tolerant of
minority groups, and these groups, including the Manchus, Muslims (Hui),
Mongolians and Tibetans in the north, are free to practise their own
religions and preserve their language, culture and traditions.
A smaller group, the Tai/Dai group mainly concentrates in Yunnan, and are
followers of Theravada Buddhism. They are closely related to the Thais and
the Thai Lue in Laos. In Xishuanbanna, there are over 500 Buddhist temples,
and more than 200 pagodas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dai_people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xishuangbanna_Dai_Autonomous_Prefecture
In a more recent news, the Chinese government is constructing the largest
Theravada temple cum centre in Xishuanbanna.
http://www.yn.chinanews.com.cn/news/sudi/2007/924/07924104023B1AH7BA0FCJ8HF93H5EC.html
The Yunnan area is more popularly known as Dali in pre-Communist China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dali%2C_Yunnan
metta,
Yong Peng.
On 9/21/07, Eisel Mazard <Parajanaka@...> wrote:
>
> I note that the Chinese government is opening a Pali and
> classical-Tibetan studies centre in Kunming (with Chinese as the
> language of instruction for the other two languages). Any
> "intelligence" on this new institution would be welcome.
>
> The official press is here:
> english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200102/23/eng20010223_63205.html
>
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