The Naxi people form one of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the people's republic of China. They are thought to have originated in northwestern China. Now, this is an ethnic group inhabiting the foothills of the Himalayas in northwestern Yunnan province and southwest Sichuan province. These minority people were brought to the attention of the western world by two men: the Austrian-American explorer, linguist, botanist and geographer, Joseph Rock and Russian writer and traveler, Peter Goullart. Both of whom lived in Lijiang and travelled during the early 20th century. Peter Goullart's book, Forgotten Kingdom, describes the life and beliefs of the Naxi and neighboring peoples. The author dedicated this book to his friend Joseph Rock.