Does a "Land of Little People" Really Exist?
Is there truly a land inhabited by little people and a land of giants in our world? Are the lands of giants and little people depicted in Jonathan Swift's classic "Gulliver's Travels" real? Ancient Chinese texts also contain descriptions of such lands. This article will first explore the land of little people.
During the Qing Dynasty, scholar Ji Xiaolan documented the existence of a land of little people in his work "Notes from the Grass Hut." In the remote mountains of Urumqi, herders often reported seeing little people, approximately one foot tall, of all ages, both male and female. When the red willow trees bloomed, these little people would gather the branches to make small flower crowns, wearing them on their heads as they joyfully danced and sang in a line.
Sometimes, these little people would sneak into the herders' tents to steal food, and if caught, they would kneel on the ground and cry. If imprisoned, they preferred to starve rather than eat. When released, they would initially hesitate to run away, frequently looking back as they walked. If someone pursued them and shouted, they would still kneel and cry. Only when they felt they were safely out of reach, estimating they wouldn't be caught, would they hurry away through the mountains and valleys. However, their true place of residence remains unknown.
These little people are not wooden creatures or wild mountain beasts but derive from ancient legends of dwarfs. Their specific names are unknown, but because they resemble children and enjoy wearing red willow, they are called "Red Willow Children."
Once, County Magistrate Qiu Tianjin took a Red Willow Child back with him while inspecting the pastures. Upon closer observation, he found these little people bore a strong resemblance to humans. The "Shan Hai Jing" (Classic of Mountains and Seas) records a land of little people called "Jingren," which is believed to be real.
The ancient text "Shan Hai Jing" includes several mentions of little people. In the "Eastern Classic of the Great Wilderness," it states: Beyond the East Sea, in the Great Wilderness, there is a land of little people called "Jingren." "Jing" means small. They are said to be only nine inches tall.
The "Southern Classic of the Great Wilderness" records a land of little people called "Jiao Jiao Guo," where all residents have the surname "Ji" and live by farming. There is also a type of little person called "Junren," who are said to stand only three feet tall.
The "Southern Classic of the Seas" also notes: To the east of Jiao Jiao Guo, there is another land of little people called "Zhou Rao Guo." These people live in caves and are about three feet tall. They dress like ordinary people and are intelligent, capable of crafting various intricate tools; they also farm the land.
The "Guo Yu" (Discourses of the States) mentions: "The Jiao Jiao people are three feet tall, the shortest of all."
The "Records of the Grand Historian" cites "Kua Di Zhi," stating: The land of little people is located south of the Great Qin, where the inhabitants are three feet tall and fear being pecked by birds while farming.
Volume twelve of "Sou Shen Ji" records: "In the fourth year of Wang Mang's reign, there were little people in Chiyang, over a foot tall, some riding in carts, some walking, managing various tasks, each according to their size, and they stopped after three days." It also references a type of little person called "Qing Ji," described as resembling humans, four inches tall, dressed in yellow clothes and crowns, riding small horses, and fond of racing.
By the time of the Three Kingdoms and the Wei and Jin dynasties, the land of little people still existed. The "Wei Zhi" (Records of Wei) describes a land of little people, standing only three to four feet tall. The Eastern Jin's "Shiyi Ji" documents a country called "Tuo Yi Guo," where the citizens are only three feet tall but can live for thousands of years; it is believed to be another name for Zhou Rao Guo.
The Tang Dynasty's "Fa Yuan Zhu Lin" (Jewel in the Law Garden) volume eight states: "The people of Jiao Jiao Guo are three feet tall, with complete facial features, but live in caves." "Shu Yi Ji" states: "In the western sea of the Da Shi Kingdom, there are little people growing on trees, six to seven inches tall, who laugh upon seeing people. If their hands or feet are touched, and a branch is broken, they will die."
Based on Ji Xiaolan's accounts, it seems that the land of little people was still believed to exist during the Qing Dynasty. As for why people in modern times can no longer see them, perhaps they remain hidden!