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Chinese Minority Bimo Books with Ritual Text & Spirit Pictures
Nuosu Tribe, 19th Century
In the southern Chinese provinces of Sichuan and eastern Yunnan is a land that the Chinese have called Lingshan or "the cool Mountains". It is a rugged area sandwiched between the hills and plains of the Chinese southeast and the high peaks and deep valleys of the Tibetan Highlands to the west. This region has been sparsely populated by the Nuosu Culture for over a thousand years who, because of the areas remoteness, have survived almost entirely autonomously in spite of repeated efforts by outsiders to absorb and assimilate them.
The land that the Nuosu occupy offers up a harsh existence. There are only a lucky few that are able to live on arable flat lands while the rest eke out a living from the steep mountainsides and deep valleys that make up over 90% of the area. The Nuosu diet is primarily vegetarian consisting mostly of tubers and coarse grains like buckwheat and corn that are able to grow in higher elevations. Meat is usually reserved for ceremonial occasions such as births, weddings and funerals. The Nuosu were also avid horsemen and raised the small, stout and hardy Mongolian ponies for transport as well as for the sheer pleasure of racing and displaying them. On occasion they would also be used in battle.

Nuosu Lacquered Wood Food Storage Bowl (HA04018): $600 & Lacquered Wood Bowl (HA05022B): $360


About seven years ago I came across a small number of brightly colored lacquer bowls that appeared to have patterns originating from Northern Burmese tribes just south of the Chinese border. I had not seen anything like these but because they appeared to be old and were quite beautiful I purchased them hoping to find out more about their origins once I returned to Seattle. I knew of the Nuosu tribal people but found no literature on the culture until someone mentioned having seen a show entitled "Mountain Patterns" mounted by the University of Washington's Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in 2000.

Collection of Bimo Books with Woven Carrying Bag

Several years later on a return trip to southern China I purchased four Nuosu "Bimo" books. The Bimo were the tribal Shamans and had a recorded lineage of roughly 135 generations. The Nuosu have a saying that "if a minister knows a hundred things and a ruler knows a thousand, then the things a Bimo knows are innumerable". There is thus no better source of advice for Nuosu tribal members than the words of the Bimo. They divine auspicious days and times for the living, exorcise ghosts, expel evils, replace misfortune with good fortune and regulate ethical behavior. For the dead they provide offerings, lead the way to the world of ancestors and ensure peaceful rest in the next world.



Spirit picture of Zhyge Alu (a mythic figure with supernatural powers to suppress ghosts and magic) in Bimo Book A (CA04002): $960


The most valuable tool of the Bimo is his book. Originally the magical texts and pictures were drawn on leather or white silk few of which survive to this day. These books are all on paper drawn with black ink and bound with two bamboo strips allowing the whole to be rolled up and occasionally placed in a wood scroll box. Probably the most appealing feature of the Bimo book are the paintings of spirit helpers. Drawn with the naïve strength of outsider' art these depict talismans and creator deities that aid the Bimo in divination.

Sadly when I last returned to China I found that the Bimo had for the most part given up all of the older books in favor of lined paper on spiral notebooks and drawn with magic markers.
Mountains of Yanyuan County in southern China

Spirit Pictures of Peacock Shoni Voile & Python Baha in Bimo Book B (CA04003): $960

Spirit Pictures of Peacock (Shoni Volie) & Zhyge Alu in Bimo Book (CA04004): $1360 (with wood case)
Bimo Reading Ritual Text from Bimo Book
Ritual Text & Spirit Pictures in Bimo Book D (CA04005): $1520 (Includes Wood Case & Woven Carrying Bag)
Nuosu Forged Iron Tridents (HA05002): $300 (Each)
I hope you have enjoyed learning about these books as much as I have. If you would like to receive additional information about any of the objects featured above or if you are searching for a particular piece, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,
John Fairman
Nuosu Carved Wood & Leather Saddle, Early 20th century: $3800 (HB06014)
& Photo of Mongilian Pony with Similar Lacquered Saddle





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