Author(s)

Duan Fangfang

Corresponding Author

Duan Fangfang

ABSTRACT

The Naxi people are one of the few ethnic minorities in the Northwest of Yunnan Province that has its own characters; its religious culture and language are quite different from other minorities. Last century, many scholars from the West had a strong interest in Naxi culture. Joseph Rock was undoubtedly the most significant, known as the "Father of Naxi Studies". His monographs “Naxi-English Encyclopedia Dictionary” and “Ancient Kingdom of Naxi in Southwest China” are the earliest records about Naxi culture, and his collections of documents and research have played an inestimable role in the subsequent study of Naxi culture. During his process of research, Joseph Rock took the chance of visiting local places, communicating with local Dongba, collecting a large number of ancient Naxi books, and then spreading some of what he had collected to various parts of the world, even to some famous museums overseas. His study and dissemination of Naxi culture played an very important role in introducing Naxi culture to the world and attracting more and more researchers to come to Lijiang to continue their further study, that’s why Joseph Lock was also known as the “Father of Naxi studies”.

KEYWORDS

Naxi minority, Naxi culture, Joseph Rock, Father of Naxi Studies,