Aini Ethnic People

The Aini (爱尼) people, a subgroup of the Hani (哈尼) ethnic group, are widely distributed in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), primarily in the towns and townships of Menghai County (勐海县), Yunnan Province (云南省). The Aini people celebrate the annual Gatangpa Festival (嘎汤帕节) from January 2nd to 4th. This festival is a joyous occasion for the Aini people to honor their ancestors, mark the end of the old year, and welcome the new year with family reunions. During the festival, young men and women wear their most beautiful traditional attire, engage in singing and dancing, and participate in activities such as flower picking, wild fruit gathering, crossbow shooting, and spinning top games.

A Journey into Aini Villages

Upon arriving at an Aini village, I encountered what appeared to be the first barrier – a gate. This gate, made from various grasses and adorned with knives, axes, swords, and strange-looking grass figures, seems to serve as both a protective barrier for the village and a means of warding off evil spirits. The gate features symbols resembling the sun or abstract patterns, making it a fierce-looking structure. Despite its intimidating appearance, it clearly plays an important role in safeguarding the village and expelling malevolent forces.

In Aini culture, the belief in spirits and deities is strong. While Western cultures often prioritize science, Eastern traditions, like those of the Aini people, hold spirits in high regard. Inside the home of Soba (梭巴), an elderly Aini woman, I felt the weight of these beliefs. The house seemed to be filled with the potential for offending spirits or disturbing ghosts. Soba carefully guided me, making sure to avoid the spirits and deities, creating an atmosphere of respect and awe.

Aini Music and Culture

My visit’s primary purpose was to listen to Soba sing, as she is said to possess a unique talent for singing with two distinct voices – one for the melody and the other for the accompaniment. As she sang, her bright red lips produced a hauntingly beautiful and sorrowful melody, accompanied by a harmonious tone that left me mesmerized. The Aini people’s songs are incredibly intricate, featuring half tones, ornamental notes, and mixed voices. As the rain began to fall softly in Yunnan (云南), it added a touch of melancholy, reminiscent of Japanese folk songs, which are said to share similarities with the Aini’s melodies.

The “Master’s Apprenticeship” Ritual

While I was immersed in the music, the neighboring household became lively, with singing and dancing welcoming a man into the house. This man was honored as Ajiu (阿舅), someone revered even more than a father. The women in the household were performing a solemn ritual called “Bai Shi Niang” (拜师娘), a formal ceremony where an apprentice becomes a shaman. This ceremony involves passing down ancient chants, and is a sacred tradition typically passed down among women. It is a lengthy, mysterious process, and I was not permitted to observe it, as the sacred tools used in the ceremony are considered taboo for outsiders. These tools, often symbolic of fertility, are regarded as sacred by many cultures, and in Aini tradition, they are revered as part of the spiritual and reproductive forces of nature.

In this mystical and spiritually charged environment, I realized that, perhaps due to my lack of spiritual perception, I could not fully understand the profound connection the Aini people have with their deities and spirits. For them, the supernatural is just as real as any scientific law, and while science can explain many things, the soul remains beyond explanation.

Funeral Customs

The Aini (爱尼) people have unique and rich funeral traditions that reflect their beliefs in spirits, ancestors, and the natural world. These customs include various rituals to honor the deceased and ensure their peaceful passage to the afterlife.

Reporting a Death

Reporting a death is a significant custom among the Aini. When someone dies, the family must inform relatives, friends, and neighbors. This is done by slaughtering a fat pig and cutting its meat into strips the size of fingers, which are skewered with bamboo sticks. These strips are delivered to the homes of relatives and friends and hung on eaves to announce the death. This practice, known as “Xi Nie Zhe” (西捏着), means “There is a dead spirit at home.” Upon seeing the meat strips, people automatically take their machetes and go to the deceased’s home to offer help.

Making the Coffin

After the death of a community member, the coffin must be made on-site. When the villagers arrive with their machetes, the family provides food and alcohol to entertain them. Afterward, the eldest member leads the group to the mountains to cut the necessary wood. The elder strikes the tree with three initial cuts, then directs the others to chop the tree down. Once the tree is felled, a piglet is slaughtered, and its meat is roasted in celebration. The villagers then begin to carve the coffin. There are two types of coffins: the male coffin (used as the lid) and the female coffin (used as the base), with the male coffin being shallow and the female coffin deeper. The coffin can be made in one day, but if the family has more resources, it may take two or three days for a more refined coffin.

Welcoming the Coffin

When the coffin is brought back to the village, the family must “welcome the coffin.” The family prepares a small meal of glutinous rice and eggs, placed in a food box. Relatives and children then accompany the family to the edge of the village to welcome the coffin, leading it to the deceased’s home.

Wrapping the Body

The custom of wrapping the body is an ancient tradition passed down through Aini ancestors. After death, the body is placed against a wooden post to sit. The body is bathed with warm water and dressed. Relatives, starting from the oldest, cover the deceased’s face with cloth. The size of the cloth varies according to the deceased’s age or rank, with larger cloths used for the elderly. Once the face is covered, the body is wrapped in either black or white cloth. Black cloth is used for married adults, and white cloth is used for unmarried individuals or those with living parents. The cloth is usually quite long, sometimes up to three or four meters. The body is wrapped from head to foot, and small holes are cut for the eyes, nose, and mouth to remain exposed. The body is then placed in the coffin.

Burial Restrictions for Unnatural Deaths

The Aini people believe that all things have spirits, and they place great importance on the cause of death. For those who die in unnatural ways—such as by lightning, gunshots, drowning, or being attacked by wild animals—the deceased cannot be buried in the regular cemetery. Instead, a hole is dug on the spot of death, and the body is buried there without a formal funeral. If the person drowned, water is used to select the burial site. A handful of water is held, and the burial site is marked where the water leaks out. Items belonging to someone who has died unnaturally are not allowed to be brought back home, as it is believed that doing so would bring misfortune.

Special Burial Rituals for Pregnant Women

For pregnant women, the burial process is similar to that of the Dai people, where the fetus is removed through abdominal surgery and buried separately. The Aini people are very strict about choosing the right day for the funeral. Only on an auspicious day will the burial take place, and if there is thunder, strong winds, or certain animals entering the village, the funeral must be postponed, even if the body has started to decompose.

Ethnic Festivals

The Aini people, also known as the “Aini” (爱尼), are an important subgroup of the Hani (哈尼) ethnic group. They are mainly distributed in Menghai County (勐海县) in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), Yunnan Province, among other areas. Their traditional festivals preserve both the general characteristics of the Hani people and the unique features of the Aini subgroup. Below are the main festivals celebrated by the Aini people:

1. Gatangpa Festival (New Year Festival)

Time: January 2nd – 4th (Originally the first day of the Hani lunar calendar, now fixed on these dates)

Location: Aini settlements in Menghai County (勐海县), Xishuangbanna (such as Gelanghe Township (格朗和乡) and Menghun Town (勐混镇))

Activities:

• Slaughtering pigs and cattle, making sticky rice cakes, brewing wine, and holding ancestor worship ceremonies.

• Young men and women wear their best clothes, sing and dance, engage in crossbow shooting, and spinning top competitions.

• Recently, Menghai County has also hosted cultural tourism activities such as a welcome ceremony and Hani embroidery exhibitions.

2. Yekuza Festival (Swing Festival)

Time: The first day of the sixth month in the lunar calendar, specifically the day of the Ox, lasting for 3-5 days.

Location: Aini villages in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳)

Activities:

• Setting up rattan swings, holding ancestor worship and prayers for blessings. The highest swinger is considered the “hero.”

• Slaughtering pigs and cattle, drinking “heartfelt wine,” and young men and women singing love songs.

3. Yang’ana Festival (Girl’s Festival)

Time: The fourth day of the second lunar month

Location: Bibo Mountain (碧播山) in Yuanyang County (元阳县), Honghe Prefecture (红河州), where some Aini people live.

Activities:

• Men take on household chores while women rest in festive attire. Young men and women sing songs to find mates.

• Women of the Yiche subgroup wear “turtle-style” dresses, shorts, and silver jewelry while singing and dancing.

Other Related Festivals

June Year (Kuzhaza Festival):

• Time: June 24th in the lunar calendar, celebrated with other Hani subgroups.

• Activities: Worshiping the mountain gods and swinging grinding mills.

October Year:

• Time: In the lunar month of October, some Aini people participate in the Hani Long Street Feast.

Festival Highlights

The Aini people’s festivals are centered around the Gatangpa Festival (嘎汤帕节), which combines agricultural rituals with social functions for the youth. The celebrations in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) are especially grand and lively. For specific event details, visitors can refer to announcements from Menghai County Government (勐海县政府) or the Xishuangbanna Cultural and Tourism Information (西双版纳文旅资讯).