At the southernmost point of Yunnan province in China is Xishuangbanna, a region of dense jungles, twisting rivers, and a way of life that cannot be divorced from nature (Reuse, 2010). It is a region where the distinction between man and nature is lost—an area so mystic as to be nearly equal to My Neighbor Totoro. Here, Totoro is set in an environment where nature is not just a background but a fundamental part of daily life, much like Japan's peaceful, mystical forests.
Xishuangbanna is home to the Dai people, whose way of life is characterized by the lush environment around them. As the massive camphor tree shelters Totoro and the sisters beneath its branches, the Xishuangbanna rainforests form protective environments through their complex layered canopies, creating safe spaces for an astonishing array of biological diversity. This area hosts a variety of animal species, among which the Asian elephant emerges as particularly cherished inhabitants, acting as vital components within the ecological balance. These gentle giants roam free in the dense jungles, their place firmly established in local lore and religious practice. Just like Totoro, the forest guardian in his universe, elephants in Xishuangbanna are revered as bringers of wisdom and harmony with nature. When Totoro, now in Dai clothing, comes into this different world, it is two cultures that are meeting together, and in such a place, the way nature and people exist in harmony is something that does not stop.
As we move into this final portion of our tour, we leave the cultural elements of the Dai people behind and move into a more general question: How do we, like Satsuki and Mei, come to view and respect the natural world that surrounds us? In Tour 3, we will examine the environmental connections that define both Xishuangbanna and the world of Totoro. In this world, human beings and nature are inextricably entwined in a delicate, mystical balance.