The traditional architectural craftsmanship of the Li ethnic group is exemplified in the straw huts, with those in Bai Cha Village being particularly representative of the Li people’s typical boat-shaped houses. Nowadays, the number of straw huts in the entire Li region has dwindled, but Bai Cha Village remains relatively well-preserved. These boat-shaped houses, the culmination of thousands of years of Li architecture, are simple in materials yet sophisticated in design, embodying the architectural wisdom of the Li people. From the exterior, they resemble an upside-down boat.
The straw huts are ground-level boat-shaped structures, long and wide, with low thatched eaves, a style conducive to wind and rain protection. The house is divided into two sections, with doors at both ends, and three tall pillars in the middle, known as ‘Ge E’ in the Li language, symbolizing men. On either side stand six shorter pillars, called ‘Ge Ding’, symbolizing women, signifying that a family is composed of both men and women. The interior of the house is made of earthen floors. Villagers dig up clay from outside, level the ground, water it, tread it flat with their feet, and let it dry or air dry, repeating this process multiple times to create a very flat and hard surface. The Li boat-shaped houses are akin to the Miao stilt houses and the bamboo houses of the Dai people in Yunnan, all traditional constructions of ethnic minorities. To the southeast of the village lies the centralized granary. The granary is built with a stone base, suspended above the ground for moisture and rodent protection. Above the stone base, there are crosswise square logs, with wooden planks as the granary floor. The top is supported by round beams, and the roof is made of bamboo and wood, covered with thatch to protect against rain. The granary is coated with clay and mud both inside and out, with the floor covered in a 4-centimeter layer of mud, all serving as a sealant. Fire prevention is crucial for straw huts. In the village, adults extinguish fires with water or vegetable ash before leaving. Should a fire break out, villagers immediately beat a gong. Those who hear the gong and do not return to help put out the fire are fined according to village regulations: 100 jin of rice, 100 jin of liquor, and 100 jin of meat. This appears to be a village regulation of Bai Cha, but it is, in fact, a part of the culture of ethnic minorities. Bai Cha Village continues to inherit traditional Li culture. Within the village, one can witness elderly grandmothers weaving Li brocade, a rarely seen technique known as tie-dyeing, where threads are tied before dyeing. Women can also be seen brewing Shanlan rice wine, a tradition that has been preserved here with self-cultivation and brewing. Additionally, the Li people’s water-crossing gourd is a rare mode of transportation. It is said that when crossing a river, people would take off their clothes, put them into the gourd, seal it, and then hold the gourd while crossing the river. The origin of Bai Cha Village: In the Meifu dialect, Bai Cha Village is called ‘Bie Cha’. The Li word ‘Bie’ refers to a muddy field with water, and ‘Cha’ refers to a thick-skinned tree. The village was named ‘Bie Cha’ because there was a muddy field with water near the village, and many thick-skinned trees grew nearby. Bai Cha is a phonetic translation of the Li language.The boat-shaped thatched cottages in Baicha Village are unique and full of charm.
