Dongba is the ancient written language of the Naxi people in Yunnan South China. The most famous collection is the Dongba Scriptures with more than
20.000 books. Like Egypt’s Hieroglyphics the Dongba script is firmly based on pictures - if you
can draw - you can write Dongba.
Dongba was developed around 1000 years ago and was clearly linked to religion. At this time the colorful Naxi culture around Lijiang flourished - making Lijiang
one the most interesting cities in China even today.
When the Mongol armies swept through Southern China they overran the Naxi Kingdom which then fell under first Mongol and later Chinese rule. Now there are only
some 500.000 Naxi People living in the Lijiang Prefecture in Yunnan Province.
