The Ancestor Remembrance (Yizu) Festival of Mongolian Ethnic Minority in Tonghai, Yuxi

The Mongolian Ancestor Remembrance Festival (忆祖节) is one of the most significant traditional celebrations for the Mongolian people in Xingmeng Township (兴蒙乡), Tonghai County (通海县), Yunnan Province (云南省). Held annually on the 20th day of the 6th lunar month, it commemorates the historical ties of the Mongolian community in this region to their ancestors. The festival is a unique cultural event that reflects the rich history and traditions of the Mongolian people, who are the only Mongolian group to have maintained their cultural identity in Yunnan.

Historical Origins of the Festival

The Legacy of Mongol Warriors

The Mongolian people in Xingmeng Township (兴蒙乡) are descendants of the Mongolian soldiers who followed Kublai Khan (忽必烈) to Yunnan (云南) during the Yuan Dynasty (元朝). In 1253, Kublai Khan led his 100,000-strong army to conquer Yunnan (云南), eventually defeating the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋).

After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty (元朝) in 1381, the Mongol soldiers (蒙古士兵) who had been stationed in Yunnan (云南) could not return to the northern grasslands. They were left scattered across the region, and many of them gradually lost their distinct Mongolian identity, integrating into the local communities. However, a small group of Mongols (蒙古族) managed to escape the persecution of the Ming Dynasty (明朝) and settled along the western shore of Qiluhu Lake (杞麓湖), preserving their Mongolian heritage.

Over time, the descendants of these Mongolian settlers transitioned from being nomadic herders (牧民) to fishermen (渔民) and then to farmers (农民). They have lived in the region for over 760 years, maintaining their unique Mongolian traditions while also absorbing elements of the local culture.

Unique Mongolian Culture in Yunnan

A Unique Cultural Blend

This Mongolian community in Yunnan (云南) has developed a distinct culture that blends Mongolian traditions with elements of the local Yunnanese culture. Over the centuries, they have retained their ethnic identity while adopting practices from their neighboring communities.

The Mongolian Ancestor Remembrance Festival (忆祖节) is celebrated in Xingmeng Township (兴蒙乡), where both young and old dress in traditional Mongolian attire (蒙古族传统服饰) and gather at San Sheng Gong (三圣宫), a temple dedicated to their ancestral figures, including Genghis Khan (成吉思汗), Möngke (蒙哥), and Kublai Khan (忽必烈). The temple houses statues of these important figures and preserves inscriptions from the Yuan (元朝), Ming (明朝), and Qing (清朝) Dynasties.

The festival’s key ritual involves a ceremony led by an elder from the community, where the history of the Mongols (蒙古族) settling in Tonghai (通海) is recited, and ritual prayers (祭文) are read to honor their ancestors.

Key Details of the Festival

Festival Origins and Date

• Historical Background: The festival commemorates the ancestors of the Mongols (蒙古族) who followed Kublai Khan (忽必烈) to Yunnan (云南), particularly Genghis Khan (成吉思汗), Möngke (蒙哥), and Kublai Khan (忽必烈), and celebrates the community’s connection to their Mongolian roots.

• Date: Celebrated annually on the 20th day of the 6th lunar month (农历六月二十日). For 2025, this corresponds to July 21 (公历7月21日).

Core Rituals and Activities

Ancestor Worship Ceremony

• Location: San Sheng Gong (三圣宫) in Xingmeng Township (兴蒙乡), where statues of Genghis Khan (成吉思汗), Möngke (蒙哥), and Kublai Khan (忽必烈) are displayed.

• Process: The ceremony is led by respected elders of the community, who offer Khatas (哈达), fresh flowers (鲜花), oil lamps (油灯), and offerings (贡品). During the ceremony, ritual prayers (祭文) are recited, recounting the history of the Mongols (蒙古族) settling in Tonghai (通海).

• Ritual Content: The prayers emphasize the Mongolian (蒙古族) identity, expressing a deep yearning for the northern grasslands and highlighting the belief that “Mongolian blood flows in our veins” (蒙古族血脉流淌在我们体内).

Cultural Performances and Folk Activities

• Participants dress in traditional Mongolian clothing (蒙古族传统服饰) and participate in folk dances (民间舞蹈) and performances (文艺表演).

• In certain years, the festival coincides with the Naadam Festival (那达慕大会), which includes traditional activities such as the Dragon Dance (舞龙), Shell Dance (跳蚌壳), and other cultural performances.

Cultural Significance

Ethnic Identity and Cultural Heritage

• Strengthening Ethnic Identity: The festival reinforces the cultural identity of the Mongolian people in Yunnan (云南), particularly their connection to Genghis Khan‘s (成吉思汗) legacy. It helps maintain the bond between the Mongolian community and their ancestral homeland in the northern grasslands.

• Historical Continuity: The festival serves as a reminder of the Mongols‘ (蒙古族) settlement in Yunnan (云南) during the Yuan Dynasty (元朝) and honors their agricultural and cultural contributions. It is a symbol of the preservation of the Mongolian heritage through centuries.

Preservation of a Unique Culture

• The festival highlights the unique blend of Mongolian (蒙古族) and Yunnanese (云南) cultures, preserving the distinct dialect of Kachuo (喀卓语), a Mongolian language spoken by the community, and other aspects of Mongolian heritage in a southern Chinese context.

Modern Development and Tourism

Promoting Cultural Tourism

• Cultural Tourism: The festival has become a platform for promoting cultural tourism in Xingmeng Township (兴蒙乡). Alongside the celebration, visitors can enjoy local delicacies (特色美食), such as Tai Chi Yellow Perch (太极黄鳝), and explore the Mongolian (蒙古族) cultural landscape.

• Collaboration with Naadam Festival: In recent years, the festival has been combined with the Naadam Festival (那达慕大会) to attract more visitors, with the Naadam held every three years (每三年一次). This combination has helped raise awareness of Mongolian culture in Yunnan (云南) and brought attention to the region’s unique Mongolian heritage.

A Unique Cultural Symbol

• This festival is an important cultural symbol that differentiates the Mongolian community of Yunnan (云南) from their northern counterparts, reflecting their distinctive way of remembering their ancestors and honoring their roots in Yunnan (云南).

The Mongolian Ancestor Remembrance Festival (忆祖节) is a vibrant celebration of Mongolian (蒙古族) culture in Xingmeng Township (兴蒙乡), Tonghai County (通海县), Yunnan Province (云南省). Through ancestral rituals, cultural performances, and folk activities, the festival not only honors the historical legacy of the Mongolian people in Yunnan (云南) but also provides a unique cultural experience for visitors, showcasing the rich traditions and history of this Mongolian community in southern China.