Legends Of The East

© Shen Che

Lisu legend says the huge round “moon” hole called Ya ha ba was made by a divine shepherd, Adeng, who shot a hole with his bow in the mountain to draw out the sea water flooded inland by the Dragon King of the East Sea. Thus Adeng succeeded in running off with the Dragon King’s daughter, Ala. 

Nu people are divided into the upper river branch and the lower river branch with distinctive customs, and dialects so different they can not understand each other. According to legend, two young brothers were traveling along the river. Suddenly after one brother had crossed the river, a flood carried away the foot bridge. The two separated brothers, crying and waving good-by, walked off in opposite directions. Thus developed from their descendants the “Anu” of the upper river and the “NuZu” of the lower river.