Mosuo community: a world where females rule

Hosted by Yang Yong, this is a small batch from the weekly literary program Ink&Quill.

The photo shows Mosuo women dressing in their festive finery. [Photo: Courtesy of Choo Waihong]

A Mosuo matriach such as this one always takes her prime place on the more important female side of the room by the family hearth,where the embers are never allowed to die out. [Photo: Courtesy of Choo Waihong]

In a world dominated by men, a community in China's Yunnan Province has caught much attention due to its unique matriarchal traditions. 

In a remote, mist-shrouded valley of the southwestern province, the Mosuo community, one of the world's last surviving matriarchal groups, women take the center stage as the leaders of their community.　

Choo Waihong, a former corporate lawyer from Singapore, has lived with the Mosuo group for six years, the only non-Mosuo to have ever done so. [Photo: Courtesy of Choo Waihong]

Choo Waihong, a former Singaporean corporate lawyer, has lived with this community for six years, and got fascinated by their distinct culture. 

Our reporter Shiyu talks with Choo on her latest book, "The Kingdom of Women: Life, Love and Death in China's Hidden Mountain."

The Q&A will touch on the following subjects:

•What drew her to the remote Mosuo community; 

•How does this matriarchal community function; 

•Is the Mosuo group the direct opposite of traditional patriarchal narrative; 

•What can we learn from them; 

If the women are confident in their special place in matrilineal Mosuo community, the men too are confident in the role of playing the Romeo in this fun-seeking community. They are confident, knowing their place in society, embracing their masculinity like their unspoken mascot, the peacock. [Photo: Courtesy of Choo Waihong]

Although Mosuo men have no fathering duties to any of his own children, they carry the responsibility of looking after their maternal nieces and nephews. As an uncle, he is the pivotal male influence over the children, much like that of a father in a nuclear family.[Photo: Courtesy of Choo Waihong]

If you want to hear the complete conversation, you can download the podcast from iTunes, by searching the key words: Ink&Quill. 

In this extended version, you will hear Choo elaborate her experience living with the Mosuo group and voice her opinion on walking marriage and many other Mosuo practices.  

Mosuo women and men are ready to kick into their jiachuo, the circle dance round a bonfire, during the Gemu Mountain Goddess Festival.[Photo: Courtesy of Choo Waihong]