The Land Where Women Rule: Inside China's Last Matriarchy

high up in the mountains in the south west of China near the Burmese border and we're on a way to meet the Mosuo people who live in a remote place which is also known as the land where women rule we're going to spend a week there to find out what life is like in one of the world's last matriarch ease the 40,000 people strong masu tribe live in the foothills of the Himalayas practice Tibetan Buddhism and are most famous for the unique family structure instead of giving the responsibility of family stability to men whose tendency to go wherever their dig points can be unreliable it's the women who are in charge of the house and inheritance goes from mother to daughter and rather than traditional marriages they have something called walking marriages allowing women to have as many boyfriends as they please throughout their lives to get to lugu lake from the near City Legion is an eight-hour drive on mainly high-altitude dirt roads this is one of the least developed regions in China with no nearby railroads so when we arrived we were surprised to see so many Chinese tourists so different than what I had imagined all the way here felt like going back in time but everyone just looks completely normal aside from some badass grandmas and there are lots of cars and hotels and hair salons to find out more about the masseur we headed to the local museum mall so instead you can torsion through John the Jumbos or Jerusalem unto Moses Island now you guys saw Boston College your mom also can use the true that you Katie fun China he channel mentorship and Churchill a limo to tacho to move on to morning and what makes the Maserati Archaea matriarchy satellite imagery of sushena the more so italiano father to the woman fell to me to death other society manages and secure on never children with Johanna among future is that your followers are to your sister frontier now how each other has a nitrogen crystal another useful shishun arson and wanton you find a shaman sofa y'all can talk about the super jackal and I go to meet a vacation to talk the girl from the museum told us to check out the lake and the famous walking marriage bridge where people go on dates rather than starstruck lovers the bridge was full of tourists taking selfies even I became a tourist attraction what do you think about the culture here in my tree Oracle culture mystery do you think it's different being a woman here than in the rest of China do you think women are happier here contributing to the boost in domestic tourism is the fascination with the Moscow way of life that's often been scandalized in a rata spies it seemed like the only masseur around or the girls selling barbecue so had a chat with one of them to find out if the bridge was still used for romancing Lizzie did you have a date on the on the bridge I should eat a little muna bottom layer with the readyto I managed a Joshua DOMA Peter Joseph Allah you can't imagine my mother to collect me before Jamie case you can also follow us and get us a new party you know good a potato that's a healthy outlook fungal there's enough everything through that fashion was just to punch something rid of them so even though your culture allows you to date as many guys as you want for you settle for one you fill one for just one guy this isn't the best if I were to have that support the it's affecting America's area this year makes more than that I anymore Natasha's in head upon my trim it wash motel she had inside that was left you find up agenda teacher customer spa and Jionni's a photographer unlike in traditional marriage in which couples live together and historically the man will be the provider the masseur never leave the family home and it's a woman's brothers and uncles who take on the father role still that often means the women have to provide i was curious to know how the men felt about living in a matriarchy so we got some guys to take us out on a boat ride a typical masseur first de la venta taking has a heart for me he can't go away so finish with us or are canta you know about the top units are usually yoga changeover one you know it's hot anywhere everything Aventura from the possible so romantic very romantic how things changed since the old days in terms of how the walking marriage works music to finish one year behind us on you if I get Salalah you find your mother mama congenital heart pump and imagination Papa coming to my party if I'd to pressure to a credo so integral F so amazing similarly kuhnian catches on you you shall cut artistic oh my god shrimp are you go shank tickets in total or I have my vagina useless a yeah and gentle chicken on the intestines on your chicken and let you pass economies forum about them home while your chicken soup on your miracle enema y'all Hangul take case on your pika so women here worked really hard do you men have more spare time so queens of felines a city Horror Show mater of Tacoma toner and today pamper me read from John I can tiny very fine German woman to you papa we're gonna poach the fish Shakalaka highest push it you shouldn't look home to the Queen toshio-kun I should so much precision these days most Moss who are monogamous but in the past taking many lovers was comet and still isn't considered a big deal after the boat ride Louise invited me to her house for dinner she's 32 has a son and lives in her family hope with her mom's sisters and all their kids there were no men around all the women got involved in the dinner preparations it was fascinating to see how her family was completely self-sufficient bringing every meal from field to table on the road the concept of supermarkets is still pretty new to them and many mas will make less than 200 dollars a year so they're relying on producing their own food they're putting in like this much lard per dish covered in pot that's why it's so tasty I don't understand it everyone here is super skinny though Oh a super shitty match this looks delicious you should approve me I'm on my way to warn Amanda Barcia not a Anthony Mitchell Cola delle cose inside jeju-do sure time to dine usual hello you sure in London where I live a meal like this would be super expensive because it's all locally produced homegrown organic gotcha mom yeah how did that good and so nice yeah I got like a Szechuan pepper 19 on the chair so how long have you lived in this house people wanted me to logician it well could I eat I'm aware poor trend will push you that your phone sir well could you tell mama attention would meet the 18 solar Santa Santa she's a woman a Heidi I just super super animals three generations and it is my Center him either potato hey Jim it was a trip with me Gemma Jumeirah days to sample my mom Argentina will try and gentlemen will true can't Yahoo mama desk agenda McCarthyism and your partner's the father of your kids due date they don't live here with you company latecomer news you only had one partner but some would have had many walking marriages and have children with many most women just like the women men stay with their own families and take care of their sister's kid but they can be part of their biological children's lives if they want to oh mama da hiya sweet educate mama SFO perfidia yo mama is requesting for total adequate Ella taken on the lagoon Haiti Chile loco this is oak winema so can watch a cyclist in hawaii state penalogical to put a cha Chi su su papá days to my wife shot equality under high GPA cha-cha deliciously shot most of the new hotel excitation this is deposited on oh they cancelled a pizza - the women who have worked really hard in the fields and carrying heavy loads and cooking and taking care of a family are then rewarded when they're older by becoming the most important figure in the household the grandma and every day she's surrounded by her entire family and everyone just seems so happy the next morning we were invited over to the mostest most famous craftswoman called Ikeda Zima who also works for the government and holds an important position in the community the mosula we're really beautiful colorful clothes do you think that this is because it's a lot er kyun that women like things to be beautiful your worship time a lot thanks Johan Johan Thalia Hydra you're new to the National Ocean is your yeah you did not wanna be just random jama'at ronia the friend I put your suits in the neighborhood now how long ya the table when I shake it oh la la well that's a ton of mashiki job you did I their long mayor 20 of them it's also their show 400 able to run two or four showed up my future to get the Patel fine be another sign from is that yet that mantra Akita x'mas work is so famous that her blankets and clothes are shipped all over the world I wanted to know if the young masa were as fascinated by the traditional handicraft as I was Samet by nitrogen warzone a Beaufort Simon the world watches the summit's is to the patient you cleave it sir then there's a piles and piles of muscle attempted burglary Tina British brand called Burberry Jess another show me Phoenicia trainee central a hana-chan Shao Qiang kokoity tiga are the young girls being taught how to leave is there an interest in it you tender love into your quiz I hope good city manager your chick atomic shittaka just saw me Gingka da watches your show Tommy pay me n so they each own Suzy how st. Gianna's a jato could sell me a - yo chika Tara Highway that's not you tell me to paint so you are you at have Mirage or is it a problem that so many of the young people are more interested in the outside world Oh Josh I ain't on a go in T you're a loser Jeremy are not happy sure your cinta shows mayor ginger show drew the heart I do / - Adama each and I do football don't with akiza the Damacio muscle women were they warriors to Hamas Sonya and Hersch acquaintance underwent here tapa bottom push off Lee Johnson that his letters imaginary it was interesting to see someone so in touch both with ancient traditions and modern life I wanted to know her thoughts on women's social status in muscle culture own you seen a juicer sort cassia Hank a syriza Helen Paulson Seto don't wanna you too granny a Lahore soya a hot soya Jesus with a potential for me so you say officer yo yo yo John tears overlooking a transfer so much what's ours that we can try de yeah he's a little bit too young to me hey there's a jacket alibi if I would enter a walking marriage with your son what would my life be like yo Chris chapada hone yet social mother caitanya brie would she carry me a lot on my continued Kenny Millett okay we'll make sure connection for whether you crave money Johnny magic feather so far yes Raja be sure that's order in China the muscles romantic life has in the past often been described as promiscuous your hot dogs your Sherpa hallelujah and youma Thomas Naidu sir so question seven samyamas Ajo topo Jose Conseco youma aho mo so Natasha foo-foo Dada Mir Papa damn you John for the thumb to your Jennifer from Tennyson search it's an emu change at the tomb also the loggia pitcher and shrink ray do you wanna most of the world what I should changing that to you too sweetie je suis en today itto the holy will meet you e ha ha ha Rehana soy yo DJ sequency to Toto tell Asiya de Janiero Masha watches CNN total SEO mimosa washer ha when left IQ dizziness workshop I decided to talk to the oldest generation of Massa women who could tell us about the old days before they had roads or at electricity Syme it up with users mother who offered to show me around Susie's mom is gonna take a Safran toxin team can't believe how fast do you still appreciate the nature here even though you see it every day man you may think you are shy dish our third food Sofia gosh your hair nuga lake was scenic but it was also being massively remodeled as more hotels roads and an airport were under construction I got the feeling we might be the last film crew to capture life in lugu lake before the tourists invade on a whole new level I can't you or laugh - when you're going to are I shouldn't sit we at uh yeah come on you're good yes tomorrow laughs rescue SaLuSa Solaria any melody people give for people with I mean many Patania so I hit you damn oil for you so this is the Taliban singing Aloha ah trace ya'll quit hockey game what wish you can see you love more hmm yes I you should see a Heuer hope Patti you're home she a ho hoodie large you know I should see you tomorrow swallow are you worried that with all these changes and all these new opportunities for young people that the ancient muscle traditions are disappearing in IPL I'm gonna have to get up I'm a yogi Onizuka Thom McCann's mommy you're shy here come up with you giggle DeeDee I was under the impression that in a matriarchy the women will be treated like Queens and the men would be doing most of the hard work but it seems like women are working way harder here Jiu Jitsu you deceive you to channel hero get your juju little Coco hungry when a haze in a mob Wahine and kozo-san ZZ wonderful teacher you and Roberto Cotto Atleti mom or none after she loses mom proudly took me out to the field she'd worked and farmed her whole life ready to go to Santa when Yankee Yankee shoe culture mr. power please get that pasilla NEPA yes you get like this suck it in oh my god is this Amy do you do this all day you must have such muscles I mean look at this place it's like ridiculously beautiful and organic and everything but it's sort of lost a bit of its charm to me after having had tea with the grandmas because I can't help but feeling that matriarchy here is just a way of glorifying housewives and the women works so hard but at least they're being appreciated for what they're doing they're the ones inheriting the property and it's pretty sensible actually you'll never have a woman on the street with her kids not knowing where to go how to feed them and they're always getting lots of help from their families so there are no divorces there's no slut-shaming there's the sort of acknowledgement of how love is something fleeting and in their own way they have found some form of gender balance I guess to find out how the younger girls felt about the very traditional way of life that Damacio is still lead we caught up with our museum guide kun and her best friend Zima both in the early 20s into the juvenile game how's your cheese along until Twitter the precious aren't you on occasion so what are you moves for the future what survived passes and so on is your handsome Ranger Shalini yeah young girl show what they see the nature that's all whatever could you put your attention garages we had your Darwin in the pond congratulations with hanger-ons jean jacket Jones how's your neck yeah Oh Georgia so I'm getting all dressed up to go to Massoud and it's really exciting I hope I'm not too big for the club standing back John out see you guys have like you have smartphones you listen to pop music and you like Twilight and things like that what do you grandmothers think about that Helen well making it to you and I wanna move you to see for talent comedy show me I'm pure Dalek are you - oh hi open mana show poutama new Pamela father pusher Hanuman part Ron so there's any sort of flirting happen at these dances whoa mentally oh what a nice girl no put some money on that you're like yeah you're gonna show my show if I think you boys cute what are the codes call so shorty now is down tincho John tada wish my on do have sunshine oh so I do this three times with my finger if I think someone's cute okay so who's your dream boy uh or pajamas your Hanukkah drew haneul yeah Hank what the Nagar TV for like the k-pop stars on agenda depression hell yeah chances are hot the possession hanger liner or the teacher me too I'm done with boys ah no idea what he was doing the dance is used to be away from also to flirt but these days like everything else is seen to mainly service entertainment for tourists it was our last night so we all went to the local pub and losing her cousin joined us to say goodbye have you ever experienced heartbreak Oh woman Joe chuckles aha yes I lied she caught you watching control occasionally do something awesome it's always a shame I love doing shows in the hospital later on though she's on sugar they told us almost 80% of young masu leave for bigger cities where they often get married and lead mainstream lives also at home so France Australia Canada China Japan Jeremy from George Washington for if you would go to bigger city would you stay there and try to find a wife there and the life there will you come back when God's wishes offer you a action situation so yeah lugu lake is a place in transition and the young masa we met seemed frustrated about being caught between ancient tradition and the temptations of the new China at their fingertips although their lives were far from perfect they were just as annoyed with social structures as anyone else they definitely had something special and it was unclear if the traditions would survive

Channel: VICE Life

Views: 2,124,148

Rating: 4.8644619 out of 5

Keywords: Broadly, Women, girls, feminism, girl gang, witches, female, documentary, documentaries, interview, interviews, culture, wild, lifestyle, world, exclusive, independent, underground, videos, journalism, vice guide, vice presents, vice news, vbs.tv, vice.com, vice, vice magazine, vice mag, vice videos, china, China’s Mosuo tribe, Mosuo, Matriarchy, Last Matriarchs, Walking marriage, Lugu Lake, polygamy, Queendom, monogamy, one-child policy

Id: t_l9D7tEixc

Length: 24min 30sec (1470 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 25 2016

Reddit Comments

[u/VerySlickRhymes]

Feels like the title is subtly implying that China is killing its "last matriarchy" when it's actually the largest in the world. Why else would they call it "China's last matriarchy"? Am I reading too much into it?

[u/[deleted]]

No need for something so obscure. Simply show them statistics. Asian men rank the best in everything. If they talk shit about all Asian men or Asian men from the motherland show them and ask them why they're equating Western born Asians with natives from Asia. Maximum cognitive dissonance. Radical people usually aren't very logical so their logic is flawed in many ways.

[u/[deleted]]

I read somewhere that the original culture of India was a matriarchal society, it is still practiced by a small group in India today called the Toda people. They practice a religion that is believed to even pre-date Hinduism.

[u/Standyourground109]

Some people are so lost that talking sense to them doesn't work

[u/aleastory]

Chinese people worship a god called "Mazu" (妈祖), which translated in English, means "Maternal Ancestor", or "Mother", or "Grandmother." This deity is still widely worshipped today by tens of millions of people throughout China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. There's also Guanyin, and I'm sure plenty of other female gods who are just as revered if not more than their male counterparts.

In Eastern culture, particularly Chinese, god(s) being a woman is not some SJW, feminist concept or some Ariana Grande song that's praised as being so "progressive." It is historic and accepted fact. If Asian culture was indeed patriarchal, these female deities would have been sidelined like they are in Greek and Norse mythology or completely nonexistent like they are in Abrahamic religions, which are truly patriarchal (just look at various Muslim countries). Asian cultures are literally the only ones that still believe in matriarchies like they always have.

Let's also not forget that polyandry (i.e. a woman having multiple husbands) was commonplace in China as well. Homosexuality too. Before Western customs, yes Western, changed all of that.

It's too bad Asian faketivists who complain about "Asian patriarchy" are often the ones who know little to nothing about their own culture. I'm not saying patriarchy doesn't exist in Asian cultures, but to say we are the worst when white men are the ones who are literally abusing/killing Asian females more goes to show how truly nonsensical these so-called Asian feminists are.