Not quite, but the Yunnanese were certainly a very interesting people. These matriarchal societies are more conservative relatives of the dominant ethnic group, the Naxi, so Naxi culture had strong matriarchal tendencies too, but they were disguised by a thin veneer of Confucian patriarchy. Here's what the culture of Yunnan used to be like before the Maoists screwed it up: http://pratyeka.org/books/peter_goullar ... ingdom.zipHow close do terrestrial societies come to matriarchies?
Closer than you'd think if your idea of the past is Victorian England. The Iroquois, the Khitans, even ancient Sparta were surprisingly egalitarian. The Mosuo or Na of Yünnan are an intriguing society quite reminiscent of the Bé.
Don't take everything this guy says on face value, but I think he makes an honest effort to understand his neighbors. We can form a pretty decent idea about Yunnanese tribal culture by reading between the lines.