Overview
Chinese Name: 楚雄市杨梅节
English Name: Chinese Bayberry Festival in Chuxiong City
Location:楚雄市中山镇，大过口乡，三街镇/Chuxiong City, Zhongshan Town, Daguokou Township. Sanjie Town
Lengends of the Festival
Every year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, the Yi people of the Chuxiong area celebrate the annual Yangmei Festival, known in Yi language as “Sala Wo Luo Zhi Ga.” The festival coincides with the ripening of the yangmei fruit, and the mountains are filled with bright red yangmei hanging from the branches, a truly delightful sight. During this beautiful season, Yi families gather from all directions in the Xiaoheiqing area of the Black Cow Mountain to celebrate their traditional festival.
The origin of the Yangmei Festival is associated with a beautiful and moving legend. It is said that a long time ago, there lived a lovely Yi girl named Amanuo on the Black Cow Mountain. Amanuo had a singing voice sweeter than that of a lark and was more beautiful than the blossoms of the horse cherry tree. She could weave thousands of colorful silk fabrics and embroider a thousand pleated skirts in a single day. Her mountain songs spread across the nine mountains and eighteen valleys, and her clothing reached all over the Ailao Mountains. Many young men sought her hand in marriage, but Amanuo only loved her sweetheart, Su Lezuo.
Later, the local chieftain, Ah Zha Pen, took a liking to Amanuo and came to propose with gold and silver treasures, accompanied by a procession of cattle, horses, mules, and sheep. Despite the chieftain’s persistent wooing, Amanuo remained silent, for her heart belonged only to Su Lezuo. Angered by her rejection, the chieftain deceitfully invited Su Lezuo to a hunting contest, where Su Lezuo went and never returned. Amanuo felt as if the moon was without the sun when she lost her beloved. Tearful and heartbroken, the kind and beautiful Yi girl searched the entire Ailao Mountains but could not find her brother Su Lezuo. Little did she know, her beloved had already been killed by the treacherous chieftain.
Strangely, when Amanuo’s tears fell to the ground, they miraculously sprouted into a sea of yangmei trees overnight. Meanwhile, the chieftain thought that with Su Lezuo’s death, he could finally marry Amanuo, but she refused to agree to his proposal. Therefore, the chieftain conspired again, threatening that if Amanuo did not comply, he would attack her village on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month. Fear spread through the entire Black Cow Mountain as local residents trembled in fear. To protect her people from harm, Amanuo set a large fire atop Black Cow Mountain on that day. Facing the fierce chieftain and her kind villagers, Amanuo sang one blessing song after another for her people and one denunciation song after another against the chieftain, before resolutely jumping into the blazing fire. The brutal chieftain was taken aback, as the blood-red flames consumed the brave and kind girl. As the firelight faded, suddenly the sun pierced through the heavy clouds, illuminating Black Cow Mountain. In the sunlight, the yangmei trees were suddenly laden with ripe, sweet red yangmei.
Later, to commemorate this self-sacrificing and fearless Yi girl, each year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, the Yi people gather at Xiaoheiqing in Black Cow Mountain for the Yangmei Festival.
On this day, beautiful Yi girls don their finest clothes and carry their favorite small bamboo baskets to the mountains to pick the ripe and red yangmei. The Yi young men bring their large Sanxian (three-stringed instrument) and play flutes, coming early to the Yangmei Street. Around noon, people play the lusheng (a traditional reed instrument) and dance, singing “A Su Zhe” melodies, greeting friends and exchanging blessings. Under the cool shade of the yangmei trees, young Yi men and women sing “Qing Peng Diao” songs to express their feelings and seek kindred spirits. If a young man finds the yangmei in the girl’s bamboo basket not sweet enough, it signifies that they do not yet understand each other well enough, and they would wait until the following year to meet again. If three yangmei taste sweet in their mouths, it indicates they have found their soulmate. If Yi girls are not satisfied with the young men, they politely decline, claiming their yangmei are not sweet. If both parties are interested, they will pair off and blend into a world of song and a sea of dance until “the brother dances through a thousand layers of floor” and “the sister wears out her embroidered shoes.”
That night, the Yi girl would bring the young man home and accommodate him in the “girl’s room,” waiting for a matchmaker to appoint a date, while the bi mo (a traditional priest) selects an auspicious day for the wedding, celebrated with music and dance as they welcome the new couple.
Overview
Chinese Name: 楚雄市三街镇请神来玩节
English Name: Inviting God Playing Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City
Location: 楚雄市三街镇上新房村委会大丫口村/Dayakou Village, Shangxinfang Village Committee, Sanjie Town, Chuxiong City
Lengend of the Festival
In Shangxinfang Village Committee, Dayakou Village, Sanjie Town, Chuxiong City, Yunnan Province, is located under a ridge of mountains that stretches far away, reportedly originating from the Cangshan Mountains in Dali. The Yi ethnic group has lived here for generations and refers to themselves as Luoluo Wuxiangpo. They are hardworking, kind, simple, and honest, living a peaceful life without extravagant desires. Behind their village, every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, people come to hold a fair, and the sounds of string instruments and flute playing used to echo through the long river valley. Perhaps because of this, the Yi people in this village particularly love to have fun and make noise. The mysterious Yi festival of “Inviting the Gods to Play” originates from this village.
Decades ago, when people’s living standards were not very affluent, there was naturally little enthusiasm for television. In their spare time, everyone loved to play together. Therefore, during the New Year celebrations, the young and old in this village would take turns playing the “Inviting the Gods” game, enjoying it endlessly. They would play from the first day of the New Year until the fifteenth day, with the scene being lively and mysterious. It is said that after the fifteenth day, the gods could no longer be invited, and thus, the game could not be played anymore. The existence of the “Inviting the Gods to Play” festival, when shared with outsiders, is often met with skepticism.
During the “Inviting the Gods to Play” festival, each household prepares a feast for the villagers who come to participate. When all the small stars in the sky are visible and the villagers gather, the elders who can chant incantations will announce the beginning of the “Inviting the Gods” ceremony, allowing people to volunteer to participate. Before the “Inviting the Gods” begins, participants must wash their faces and feet, harboring pure intentions. Once everything is ready, the hosts will close the doors of the main hall, and those with windows will also close them, claiming that they fear the invited gods might cause those being possessed to run out and see the small stars, making it impossible for them to return to their “human form,” so they exercise extra caution. The ritual of inviting the gods takes place on the ground spread with green pine needles in front of the Yi “sacrificial altar” (which has offerings for various deities year-round). Those willing to be possessed by the gods kneel on the ground with incense lit, while the one chanting the incantations also lights incense in front of them and recites verses, the general meaning of which is to invite a certain celestial god to come and play, stating that life on earth is very enjoyable.
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 大姚县石羊镇开井节
- English Name: Kaijing Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Dayao County, Chuxiong
- Location:大姚县石羊镇/Dayao County, Shiyang Town
The Yi Ethnic Group’s Opening Well Festival is a folk festival of the Yi people, originating from Shiyang Town in Dayao County, Chuxiong Prefecture. It is established to thank the legendary Dragon Maiden of Dongting Lake, who, under the pressure of the Dragon King of Erhai Lake, discovered the Shiyang salt well while tending to white sheep. During this festival, the entire Shiyang Town is bustling with prosperity, as people gather at the Shiyang market to shop, purchase goods, and taste various local delicacies.
Overview
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Yi and Han people gather in Shiyang Town, Dayao County, Chuxiong Prefecture, to hold a market and celebrate in gratitude for the achievements of the legendary Dragon Maiden of Dongting Lake, who discovered the Shiyang salt well while tending to white sheep. At this time, the entire Shiyang Town is bustling and lively, filled with the sounds of opera, market vendors, and laughter. People are busy selecting the items they love, and famous local snacks like cold noodles, pickled chili, pickled vegetables, and savory pancakes are plentiful. As you walk into the crowd, you’ll be enveloped by the atmosphere of happiness radiating from the people.
Legend of the Opening Well Festival
I cannot recall which year or dynasty it was, but the Dragon King of Dongting Lake had a beautiful daughter, gentle and virtuous, resembling a red camellia blossom. One day, under the sunny skies of Dongting Lake, with waves sparkling in the sunlight, the Dragon Maiden was captivated by the wonders of the human world. She secretly brought a maid with her to the lakeside to play, but unexpectedly, the Dragon King of Erhai Lake passed by, saw the Dragon Maiden’s exquisite beauty and graceful demeanor, and was filled with an inappropriate desire. He took the Dragon Maiden to Erhai, forcing her to marry him.
The Dragon Maiden was a determined girl; even under the Dragon King of Erhai’s pressures, she refused to yield and would rather die than comply. Furious and embarrassed, Erhai’s Dragon King had no choice but to send the Dragon Maiden to the deep mountains, ordering her to tend three hundred sheep until she changed her mind, forbidding her from returning to the water. Thus, the Dragon Maiden herded the sheep in the mountain; when thirsty, she drank mountain spring water, and when hungry, she ate wild fruits. During the day, she walked barefoot across the mountains, and at night, she slept in the grass.
The Dragon Maiden traveled far and wide, across ninety-nine mountains and cliffs, her feet pricked by thorns until blood dripped into the mountain creek, where camellias bloomed. Sweat fell onto the rocks, causing the Ganoderma lucidum to grow. After enduring countless hardships, the Dragon Maiden’s sweat mixed with the spring water in the deep mountain, and she broke open a stone lock, allowing the salty spring to flow down to Yi Mountain. The Yi Mountain was saved, everything revived, and the buckwheat in the fields turned green again.
The Dragon Maiden twisted fine vines into a basket, sweeping sheep dung into it on her way, which she carried to the buckwheat field, causing the Yi’s buckwheat to bloom on the spot.
The people of the Yi village adored this shepherd girl, affectionately calling her “Shepherd Maiden.” The girls wove beautiful linen skirts to give her, while the young men played the lusheng (a type of reed pipe) and bamboo flutes, singing “Meige” and “Dajia.” The little sisters all vied to help the Shepherd Maiden with her flock. Although the drought in Yi Mountain was resolved, the Yi people still had no salt to eat. The Dragon Maiden declined their heartfelt invitations to stay, instead driving her sheep to search for a salt well so the Yi villagers could have salt.
Once again, the Dragon Maiden climbed over ninety-nine cliffs. Her sheepskin coat wore thin, and her linen skirt ripped. She climbed mountains and cliffs, continuing her search in the deep mountains, tasting pieces of sand and stone with her mouth. Thirty-three of her sheep died from exhaustion, and wolves in the deep mountains snatched away another thirty-three. Only one white sheep remained by her side. The Dragon Maiden, battered and hungry, could barely move and fell asleep at the base of a cliff.
A gentle breeze awakened the Dragon Maiden, and when she looked around, she found that the remaining white sheep was also missing. She quickly searched everywhere until she suddenly heard a bleating sound from afar. Ignoring her pain, she ran up the slope, only to see that the white sheep was burrowing its head into the ground. Half of its body was already buried. The Dragon Maiden hurriedly pulled on its tail to free it; the tail broke, yet the sheep continued to dig. What to do? Suddenly, the Dragon Maiden had an idea: sheep love salt! Maybe there was salt here. She quickly grabbed a handful of earth and put it in her mouth, and indeed, it was salty! She had found the salt! Overjoyed, she fell to the ground and began digging with her hands, and after a while, she unearthed a deep salt well.
After a long time, the people of Yi Mountain had yet to see the Shepherd Maiden return, so they sent out young men with knives and gunpowder to search for her. They found the salt well, but the Dragon Maiden had died, her hands still buried in the earth, and the white sheep had transformed into a stone sheep. From then on, the Yi people built a temple next to the stone sheep to commemorate the Shepherd Maiden, with a statue of her in the temple still dressed in a Yi girl’s linen skirt.
Year after year, people continued to celebrate the festival to express their gratitude for the Dragon Maiden’s contributions.
Introduction
Located at Yongdao Street (甬道街), Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market was opened for business in 1983, gathering vendors selling flowers, birds, fish and so on, and finally became the biggest flowers and birds market in Kunming. Local people of the city, especially children getting pocket money during the Spring Festival, like wandering around this oldest flowers and birds market to buy the merchandise they like or shop with eyes only. Yongtong Street is no less than 200 meters long and about 15 meters wide, but there are more than 300 setting booths and about 700 traders. Phoenix trees are planted in line on sides of the road, providing shade for visitors in summer. Besides various kinds of flowers, birds, fishes and pet-insects, item for collection and decoration such as jewels,handcrafts, antiques and commemorative coins are also sold at this market. At least seven to eight groups of foreign visitors can be seen shopping in Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market every day.
The History of Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market
The history of Kunming Ancient Street can be traced back to Song Dynasty (960-1279), while the existing structure, while the street is famous as the only block in Kunming that preserves a large amount of ancient architectures built in Qing Dynasty (1616-1912) and the Republic of China (1912-1949). The architectures there today are essentially important for studying the style and features of mansions and private houses of the periods.
With a history of more than 900 years, Kunming Ancient Street is also a trademark and the last biggest ancient block in Kunming downtown which gains highly attention of local government providing well protection to make sure its sustainable development.
As planned, CNY 3 billion has been invested in the project of Reconstruction of Kunming Ancient Street, which started since 2006 and involved 10 streets including Wenming Street (文明街), JIngxing Street (景星街), Wemiao Straight Street (文庙直街, Confucian Temple Street), Yongdao Street (甬道街), Guanghua Street (光华街), etc. The project aims at creating an AAAA rank Scenic Spots in Kunming. According to official information, the area is called “Old Town Area” or “Preserved Area”.
What to See & Do in Jingxing Flower and Bird Market？
1. Appreciating Flowers, Birds, Fish and Jewelry
Since Jingxing Bird and Flower Market has opened for over 30 years, it has become a mature visiting place with tremendous number of flowers. Many kinds of orchids, various camellias, narcissuses, azaleas, roses, begonias, etc. decorate this market into a very bright and colorful paradise with refreshing fragrance. Moreover, you can find different species of birds chirping along the street, like parrots, crested mynas, thrushes, beyond count, and those types you have never seen, which plays an especially ear-pleasing sound for your Kunming tour.
Besides, you can see a lot of adorable fishes, crabs, turtles, etc. in red, white, yellow, orange, black and other colors having fun in the water. And apart from that, you can still continue your “treasure hunt” in Kunming bird and flower market, since there is a numerous number of jadestones, rubies, sapphires, wood carving works, handicrafts in marble stones, snuff bottles, hookahs, jade ornaments, calligraphies and paintings, coins at home and abroad from ancient to present, etc., which is too many to see all their charm but will give your trip a surprise.
2. Feeling the Interesting Culture
As one of the most famous historical streets in Kunming, the market is home to many old buildings and cultural sites such as Nie Er’s former residence and Greater China Entertainment Film Theater, and close to Green Lake Park and Yunnan Art Theatre. Therefore, strolling in the Flower and Bird Market, you can not only experience the real daily life of the local people, but also experience the interesting local culture.
The Flower and Bird Market also acts as a cultural trade center for various kinds of antiques, including jade objects, ink slabs, ancient coins, porcelain, agates, snuff bottles, hookah, Buddha statue, Chairman Mao badge and other handicrafts, which are mainly sold on its second-hand book market and antique market.
The Flower and Bird Market also acts as a cultural trade center for various kinds of antiques, including jade objects, ink slabs, ancient coins, porcelain, agates, snuff bottles, hookah, Buddha statue, Chairman Mao badge and other handicrafts, which are mainly sold on its second-hand book market and antique market.
3. Tasting the Delicious Local Food
Teahouses and shops selling interesting delicacies and street food, such as Yunnan Rice Noodles, sweet wine, fried spiral shells, braised bean curd and others are dotted in the market, forming a great convenient food street to visitors.
Some other flowers and birds markets in Kunming
1. White Dragon Flowers and Birds Market(白龙花鸟市场): take bus No. 47, 69 or 95, get off at the stop of Shibo Jixinyuan (世博吉鑫园);
2. Western Pets, Flowers and Birds Market(西部宠物花鸟市场): take bus No. 58 or 80, get off at the stop of Xiyuan Keyunzhan (西苑客运站);
3. Chunyuan Flowers and Birds Market(春苑花鸟市场): take bus No. 58, 61 or 62, get off at the stop of Chunyuan Xiaoqu (春苑小区);
4. Daguan Flowers, Birds and Insect Market(大观花鸟虫市场): take bus No. 125, or 160, get off at the stop of Daguan Shangyecheng (大观商业城);
5. Golden Tree Village Flowers and Birds Market(金树村花鸟市场): take bus No. 47, or 50, get off at the stop of Xinying Lukou(新迎路口/人民东路);
6. Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market(景星花鸟市场): take bus No. 10, or 82, get off at the stop of Nanpingjie Xikou(南屏街西口);
7. Dounan Flowers Trading Market(斗南花卉交易市场): take bus No. 12 get off at the stop of Beimen Jiekou (北门街口), then take bus 215 get off at the bus stop of Dounan (斗南);
8. Expo Garden Flowers and Birds Market(世博园花鸟市场): take bus No. 47, 69 or 95, get off at the stop of Shibo Jixinyuan (世博吉鑫园);
9. Little Dragon Sifang Street Flowers and Birds Market(小龙四方街花鸟市场): take bus No. 60 or 95, get off at the stop of Xinying Lukou(新迎路口/白龙路);
10. Zhongbei Flowers and Birds Market(中北花鸟市场): take bus No. 99 or 171, get off at the stop of Jinyuan Huayuan(锦苑花园).
How to Get to Jingxing Bird and Flower Market
By Bus
It is located at downtown Kunming and not far away from Kunming Department Store and Nanping Pedestrian Street (南屏步行街). Travelers can take bus No.1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 26 or 52, or take a taxi.
By Subway
Tourists can take Subway Line.2 to Dongfeng Square, then we can walk to Jingxing Bird and Flower Markets.
Private Tour (Top Recommended)
If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Jingxing Bird and Flower Market with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Travel Tips
1. Measure system in Kunming is different from that of other cities. Traders in Kunming always quote at 1 kilogram per unit while traders in other China cities will quote at 500 gram per unit. Please make sure the unit price before you buy anything.
2. Besides flowers, birds, fish and pet-insect, many folk arts and crafts are selling in Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market which is surrounding by large numbers of most well-preserved ancient architectures in Kunming.
Chinese Name: 双柏县法脿镇彝族祭龙节
English Name: Dragon Worship Festival in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
Location:双柏县法脿镇雨龙村委会和法甸村委会
The Dragon Worship Festival in Shuangbai County, located in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, China, is a vibrant and culturally significant event celebrated primarily by the Yi ethnic minority community. This annual festival is deeply rooted in the local culture and serves to honor dragon deities, which are believed to bring good fortune, rainfall, and abundant harvests.the Dragon Worship Festival in Shuangbai County is not only a key cultural event for the Yi community but also a celebration of nature, spirituality, and communal unity. It highlights the rich cultural tapestry of the region and serves to preserve and promote the traditions of the Yi people for future generations.
Key Features of the Dragon Worship Festival:
- Cultural Significance: The dragon is a revered symbol in many Chinese cultures, and for the Yi people, it represents power, strength, and fertility. The festival is an expression of gratitude to the dragon for its blessings and is a way to seek protection and prosperity for the community.
- Rituals and Ceremonies: The festival features various rituals and ceremonies, including offerings to dragon deities. Community members participate in these sacred practices, which may involve chanting, praying, and making offerings of food, incense, and other items. The rituals are led by local shamans or spiritual leaders who play a crucial role in connecting the community with the divine.
- Traditional Performances: The Dragon Worship Festival includes colorful performances and traditional dances. Participants often wear vibrant traditional costumes, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Yi people. Dance performances may depict dragon dances, symbolizing strength and vitality, and are accompanied by music played on traditional instruments.
- Community Feasting: A significant aspect of the festival is communal feasting, where families and visitors come together to enjoy traditional Yi dishes. Celebratory meals typically feature local ingredients, showcasing the region’s agricultural bounty and culinary diversity.
- Sports and Competitions: The festival also involves various competitions and games, such as horse racing, tug-of-war, and traditional sports. These activities foster a sense of camaraderie among participants and provide entertainment for attendees.
- Cultural Exchange: The Dragon Worship Festival attracts not only local residents but also visitors from other regions, promoting cultural exchange and understanding. It’s an opportunity for people to learn about Yi customs, traditions, and lifestyle.
Chinese Name: 姚安县新民-牟定县腊湾民族团结日
English Name: Xinmin-Lawan National Unity Day in Yaoan and Mouding Counties, Chuxiong
Location:姚安县前场镇新民村委会与牟定县凤屯镇腊湾村委会
March 23, that is, February 15 of the lunar month, was the 25th Xinmin(新民）-Lawan（腊湾） National Unity Day in Yao’an（姚安） and Mouding（牟定） Countries，Chuxiong（楚雄）. In order to talk freely about the friendly feelings between the Yi families in the two places, further deepen the national unity and constantly plan for the development of the ethnic groups in the two places, in turn, Yao’an（姚安） government held the 25th Xinmin（新民）-Lawan（腊湾） National Unity Day celebration in Xinmin（新民） Village Committee, and carried out the activities such as fraternity, artistic performances, free clinic of medical staff and material exchange. Although it was drizzling, ten thousand people of all ethnic groups dressed in national clothes would not stop playing strings and singing folk songs. They gathered together to celebrate the 25th National Unity Day.
This was a rave festival. On the artistic performance court, the members of Yao’an（姚安） Country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center（ICHPC） scrambled to appear on the stage, and their performance was so wonderful that all people regardless of age and sex roared with laughter. At the free clinic site where the county clerk’s office for the implementation of the “Concentric Project（同心工程）” organized the medical staff of the county people’s hospital and the county hospital of Chinese medicine to carry out the activity, many middle-aged and elderly people competed for inspection and consultation outside three layers. The doctors were praised lavishly for their warm service and superb medical skills. The young boys and girls were immersed in the dancing and singing field, singing antiphonal folk songs. When one person finished his or her songs, another would go no. During the process of singing and dancing, they were showing their elegant demeanor, releasing their passion, and letting go of their mood. Of course, they could not forget to quietly find the right person. All the men and women, old and young looked for strings to join the dance, forgetting their age, forgetting their hard work, and forgetting their worries.They jumped out of a good mood, and roared so easily.
This was a spiritual gathering. It was a gathering of directors at all levels to discuss the development matters of vital importance. It also was a gathering of the hearts of men, women, and children in all the places, a reflection of heart to heart, a leap of passion in life, and a transmission of love. Besides, it was the bridge of friendship, and the sustenance of hope as well.
Links:
http://www.chuxiong.cn/mzwhpd/mzjq/705830.shtml
http://www.yaoan.gov.cn/Pages_3_8396.aspx
http://www.yaoan.gov.cn/Pages_1_5816.aspx
Overview
- Chinese Name: 武定县东坡傣族乡傣族四月八/泼水节
- English Name: Siyueba (April 8th) Festival/Water Splashing Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong
- Location: Dongpo Dai Ethnic Town of Wuding County, Chuxiong/武定县东坡傣族乡
The Water Splashing Festival, also known as the “Buddha Bathing Festival,” is referred to in the Dai language as “Sangkanbimai,” which means “New Year.” The Water Splashing Festival in Dongpo has its roots in the celebrations found in Xishuangbanna, Jinghong, and other areas. Due to the temperature differences and humidity of the environment, it is held during a time when seedlings need to be planted, when the water channels are full and the fields are green, symbolizing a favorable climate, abundant rainfall, and a bountiful harvest. Therefore, it takes place a little later in the year. The Dongpo Water Splashing Festival is usually celebrated on the 8th day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, and its “glorious appearance” has become a traditional festival for the Dai people of Dongpo, celebrated on a grand scale and marked by formal ceremonies for thousands of years. During the Water Splashing Festival, people of all ethnic groups wear traditional costumes and gather in Dongpo and Baima Mouth, singing and dancing together to celebrate the grand event.
Basic Introduction
“Water splashes, and the Dai people celebrate wildly!” “Getting splashed head-to-toe brings happiness for a lifetime!” At the water-splashing event in Dongpo Town and Baima Mouth New Village, men, women, young and old, all dressed in traditional ethnic costumes, chase each other, splashing buckets and basins of water in their hearts’ joyful expression of love. In the crowd, people are focused on filling water and splashing it enthusiastically, forgetting about gender and age. Water flies and splashes everywhere, like celestial maidens scattering flowers, flowing gently towards the joyful crowd accompanied by lively music and Dai dance. “Under the summer sun, feelings run deeper, phoenix flowers bloom to welcome guests; golden ripples rise on the lake’s surface, splashing water adds to the festive joy.” People splash water on each other and share blessings, thoroughly enjoying the celebration while conveying the sincere friendship and love among the youth. The sacred water washes away the labor, worries, and sadness of the past year. It is a symbol of joy and welcomes distant guests and passersby, showing respect and hospitality, thereby conveying friendship to friends from all directions. There is a refreshing clarity and a sense of tranquility after a spiritual cleansing, allowing the stories of the Dai homeland to permeate Dongpo. Under the rotating sun, the people celebrating the Water Splashing Festival seem even more youthful and vibrant.
Dongpo, a Dai ethnic township, boasts simple and sincere customs, along with rich natural endowments. It is known as the “Hometown of Hot Springs” in Wuding County, with fertile land, abundant water sources, long sunlight hours, and a variety of agricultural products. Additionally, with the water storage of the Wudongde Hydropower Station reservoir, it creates an extraordinary “Agriculture, Culture, and Tourism” scenic area: “Three rivers and three dams of Golden Sand Lake, with meandering rivers of crystal-clear water; throughout the year, fragrant flowers and fruits bloom, rice fields sway like waves, and the hills bend under the weight of plump oranges, while the reeds along the river dance with flowers; the water of Golden Sand Lake ripples like gold, with graceful egrets flying above, and fish swimming in shallow waters, the lake’s allure nourishing the skin.”
“Water splashes, and the Dai people celebrate wildly!” “Getting splashed head-to-toe brings happiness for a lifetime!” At the water-splashing event in Dongpo Town and Baima Mouth New Village, men, women, young and old, all dressed in traditional ethnic costumes, chase each other, splashing buckets and basins of water in their hearts’ joyful expression of love. In the crowd, people are focused on filling water and splashing it enthusiastically, forgetting about gender and age. Water flies and splashes everywhere, like celestial maidens scattering flowers, flowing gently towards the joyful crowd accompanied by lively music and Dai dance. “Under the summer sun, feelings run deeper, phoenix flowers bloom to welcome guests; golden ripples rise on the lake’s surface, splashing water adds to the festive joy.” People splash water on each other and share blessings, thoroughly enjoying the celebration while conveying the sincere friendship and love among the youth. The sacred water washes away the labor, worries, and sadness of the past year. It is a symbol of joy and welcomes distant guests and passersby, showing respect and hospitality, thereby conveying friendship to friends from all directions. There is a refreshing clarity and a sense of tranquility after a spiritual cleansing, allowing the stories of the Dai homeland to permeate Dongpo. Under the rotating sun, the people celebrating the Water Splashing Festival seem even more youthful and vibrant.
Dongpo, a Dai ethnic township, boasts simple and sincere customs, along with rich natural endowments. It is known as the “Hometown of Hot Springs” in Wuding County, with fertile land, abundant water sources, long sunlight hours, and a variety of agricultural products. Additionally, with the water storage of the Wudongde Hydropower Station reservoir, it creates an extraordinary “Agriculture, Culture, and Tourism” scenic area: “Three rivers and three dams of Golden Sand Lake, with meandering rivers of crystal-clear water; throughout the year, fragrant flowers and fruits bloom, rice fields sway like waves, and the hills bend under the weight of plump oranges, while the reeds along the river dance with flowers; the water of Golden Sand Lake ripples like gold, with graceful egrets flying above, and fish swimming in shallow waters, the lake’s allure nourishing the skin.”
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 牟定县扭柴河村太平乐会
- English Name: Taiping Lehui Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Mouding County, Chuxiong
- Location:Niuchaihe Village of Gonghe Town in Mouding County/牟定县共和镇清河村委会扭柴河村
The Taiping Lehui Festival is one of the most important and vibrant traditional celebrations of the Yi ethnic minority, particularly celebrated in Mouding County, Chuxiong, in Yunnan Province, China. This festival usually takes place in the seventh month of the lunar calendar and lasts for several days, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Yi people.
Key Features of the Taiping Lehui Festival:
- Cultural Significance: The Taiping Lehui Festival is deeply rooted in the agrarian lifestyle of the Yi people. It is a time for communities to come together to celebrate the harvest, express gratitude for nature’s bounty, and pray for a good future. The festival symbolizes unity and harmony among the Yi, as well as their connection to nature.
- Rituals and Customs: The festival typically includes various rituals such as offerings to ancestors and deities, as well as ceremonies to bless the crops and ensure a good harvest. These customs reflect the Yi people’s respect for their ancestors and the natural world.
- Traditional Performances: During the festival, traditional music and dance performances are a highlight. The Yi people engage in lively dances characterized by intricate footwork and vibrant costumes, often accompanied by traditional musical instruments. The Erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument), flutes, and drums are commonly used, creating a festive atmosphere.
- Costumes and Attire: Participants often dress in colorful traditional clothing that showcases the unique styles of the Yi ethnic group. Women’s outfits are adorned with silver jewelry, embroidery, and bright fabrics, while men typically wear distinctive hats and garments that reflect their cultural identity.
- Sports and Games: In addition to cultural performances, the festival is also marked by various competitions and games, such as traditional archery, horse racing, and wrestling. These activities not only provide entertainment but also foster a spirit of camaraderie among participants.
- Community Bonding: The Taiping Lehui Festival serves as a vital occasion for socializing and strengthening community ties. It is a time for families to come together, visitors to partake in the festivities, and friendships to be nurtured.
- Promoting Tourism: In recent years, the festival has also attracted tourists who wish to experience the unique traditions of the Yi ethnic minority. Local authorities encourage the participation of visitors, contributing to both cultural exchange and economic development in the region.
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 双柏县安龙堡乡花鼓文化节
- English Name: Huagu (Flower Drum) Culture Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
- Location: Anlongbao Town of Shuangbai County/双柏县安龙堡乡
Anlongbao Township in Shuangbai County is a typical settlement of the Yi ethnic minority. Known for its rich ethnic customs and deep cultural heritage, it is often referred to as the “Hometown of Yi Shengdances,” “Hometown of Flower Drums,” and “Hometown of Four-String Instruments” in China. The Flower Drum Dance is the most widely performed dance among the Acha branch of the Yi people. It was originally introduced from Eshan to Shuangbai County and later spread to Yi regions such as Anlongbao and Damai Di. The most vivid performances are found in places like Anlongbao Township and the surrounding villages. Amidst the curling smoke rising from the earthen houses, accompanied by classic folk songs, the passionate and lively performances of the Flower Drum Dance bring endless joy and happiness to the people.
Key Activities of the Huagu Culture Festival:
- Flower Drum Dance Performances: The centerpiece of the festival is the lively and colorful Flower Drum Dance. Various groups perform traditional dances, featuring intricate footwork, energetic movements, and expressive storytelling. Participants often wear vibrant traditional costumes, enhancing the visual appeal of the performances.
- Music and Singing: Traditional Yi music is an integral part of the festival. Local musicians play traditional instruments, such as the four-stringed zithers and flutes, while singers perform folk songs that tell stories of Yi culture, nature, and daily life. The atmosphere is filled with joyful melodies that resonate with both participants and spectators.
- Cultural Exhibitions: The festival often features exhibitions showcasing Yi handicrafts, textiles, and traditional arts. Visitors can explore stalls displaying intricate embroidery, jewelry, and other artisan products. This not only preserves traditional crafts but also promotes them to a wider audience.
- Food and Culinary Delights: Local cuisine plays an important role during the festival, with numerous food stalls offering traditional Yi dishes. Visitors can sample various specialties, such as grilled meats, spicy salads, and local pastries, allowing them to experience the unique flavors of Yi culture.
- Traditional Games and Competitions: To engage the community, the festival includes various traditional games and competitions, such as archery, tug-of-war, and horse racing. These events not only provide entertainment but also foster camaraderie and teamwork among participants.
- Cultural Workshops: In some editions of the festival, workshops are organized to teach attendees about Yi traditional crafts, music, and dance. These interactive sessions allow visitors to immerse themselves in the culture and learn directly from local practitioners.
- Parades and Rituals: The festival often includes grand parades featuring representatives from different Yi communities. Rituals to honor ancestors and deities may also take place, emphasizing the spiritual connection of the Yi people to their culture and environment.
- Community Gatherings: The festival is a significant time for family reunions and community gatherings. It provides an opportunity for people to connect with one another, share stories, and celebrate their shared cultural heritage.
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 武定县万德乡二月八/罗婺歌会
- English Name: Eryueba (February 8th) Festival/Luowu Ethnic Song Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong
- Location:武定县万德乡/”Wande Township, Wuding County
The Eryueba (February 8th) Festival, also known as the Luowu Ethnic Song Festival, is a vibrant and culturally rich celebration held in Wuding County, Chuxiong, China. This festival is primarily associated with the Luowu people, an ethnic minority group, and it serves as a pivotal occasion for showcasing their cultural heritage, fostering community bonds, and celebrating the arrival of spring.The Eryueba Festival is not just a celebration of the Luowu ethnic group’s cultural heritage; it is also a significant event that promotes unity, diversity, and appreciation for traditional practices among various ethnicities in the region. It provides an enriching experience for both participants and visitors, allowing them to participate in the vibrant cultural landscape of Wuding County.
Overview of the Eryueba Festival
- Cultural Significance: The Eryueba Festival is deeply rooted in the traditions and beliefs of the Luowu ethnic group. It typically falls on the 8th day of the second month of the lunar calendar, which corresponds to the beginning of spring. This timing is significant as it marks a period of renewal and rejuvenation in nature.
- Celebration of Songs: Central to the festival is the expression of cultural identity through song. The Luowu people have a rich tradition of oral storytelling and music, and the festival provides a platform for showcasing their unique songs and chants that reflect their life, history, and values.
Festival Activities
- Song Performances: The festival features numerous performances of traditional Luowu songs. These performances often include singing competitions where individuals and groups showcase their vocal talents, and the songs often convey themes of love, nature, and daily life.
- Dance Programs: Accompanied by songs, traditional dances are a major highlight of the festival. Participants don colorful costumes and perform a variety of folk dances that are both beautiful and expressive. These dances often tell stories or depict cultural legends.
- Cultural Exhibitions: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange, including exhibitions of traditional crafts. Visitors can explore stalls displaying handmade goods, such as textiles, pottery, and jewelry, allowing for a deeper appreciation of Luowu craftsmanship.
- Traditional Games: Various traditional games and competitions are organized during the festival, including archery, tug-of-war, and other athletic contests. These activities encourage community participation and foster a spirit of competition and camaraderie.
- Food and Culinary Experiences: Local culinary traditions are celebrated during the festival. Food stalls offer regional delicacies, allowing attendees to indulge in traditional Luowu cuisine. This aspect of the festival highlights the connection between food, culture, and community.
- Rituals and Worship: The festival often includes rituals to honor ancestors and deities. These rituals are an important part of Luowu culture, reflecting their spiritual beliefs and connection to their heritage.
- Community Gatherings: The Eryueba Festival serves as a time for the Luowu people to come together, renew friendships, and strengthen community bonds. Families gather to celebrate and share in the joyous atmosphere.
- Cultural Workshops: Some editions of the festival include workshops where participants can learn traditional songs, dances, and crafts. This interactive component encourages engagement with the culture and helps preserve traditional practices.
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 楚雄民族赛装文化节
- English Name: Chuxion Nationalities Saizhuang (Costume Competition) Festival
- Location: Chuxiong City
- Festival Dates:March 28th, and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The Garment Festival of Yi ethnic girls has two locations in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture. One is the Garment Festival in Zhiqu Village, Yongren County, which takes place on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month each year. The other is the Garment Festival in Santai Township, Dayao County, held on the twenty-eighth day of the third lunar month.
The Garment Festival provides an opportunity for young men and women who live in dispersed communities, making it difficult for them to gather and get to know each other, to express their love. The girls showcase their charm by demonstrating who wears the most beautiful clothes. The clothing of Yi women is entirely handmade with peach blossoms and embroidery, and making a complete outfit can often take one or two years. Therefore, those who have more clothes and better designs are seen as hardworking, capable, and skillful individuals.
Unlike past traditions of the festival, people no longer wear all their clothes at once but instead change into new outfits repeatedly, with some girls changing five or six times in a single day. As a result, the festival now features another scene: under the shade of green trees, the elders set up countless tents where they cook food, loyally guarding the clothing of their daughters.
From the very beginning, the Garment Festival has had a competitive nature, making it one of the earliest fashion shows. The difference is that Yi girls are not only the designers of the clothes but also their makers, and they serve as the “fashion models” during the performance.
Festival Features
Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Yi people living in the Zhiqu area of Yongren County and nearby Zhonghe and Dayao County in Yunnan gather to celebrate the Garment Festival. The Garment Festival is a day for a grand competition of clothing and adornments. It is a festival that fully showcases the intelligence and hard work of the Yi people and is also a celebration of beauty and elegance.
At the garment competition, colors abound, with vibrant and eye-catching clothing everywhere, making it a visual feast. Yi women not only embroider flowers on hats, clothes, and waist wraps, but also cover bags, shoes, and insoles with various patterns. Each person’s craftsmanship, composition, and color choices are unique, showcasing their individuality. Embroidery can depict everything from rain and thunder to the sun and moon, mountains, and rivers, as well as various plants and animals. The intricate balance of simplicity and complexity in the compositions, exaggerated and transformed images, and striking color contrasts leave spectators in awe.
Legend of the Festival
The Garment Festival of the Yi people in the Zhiqu area of Zhonghe Township, Yongren County, Yunnan, commonly known as the “Clothing Festival,” originates from a beautiful, mystical, and alluring legend. It is said that long ago, brothers Chaoliruo and Chaolaruo came from Yiliba to the heart of Zhiqu for hunting and discovered that the mountains were green, the waters clear, and the soil fertile. They remarked, “If we could plant millet here, it would surely yield abundant harvests year after year.” As they bent down to drink the sweet spring water, three grains of millet rolled out of their quiver. Ignoring their thirst, the brothers hurried to gather the seeds and scattered them in a mud pond, wishing, “If this is a place where our people can settle, may these three grains grow into three large clusters, each as thick and long as a horse’s tail.” Not long after, the brothers returned with blankets, bows, and farming tools to tend to the crops. As fate would have it, the three grains did indeed grow into three large clusters, which had golden ears that were as thick and long as a horse’s tail. The brothers brought back the harvest, and news spread throughout the villages. Many villagers followed the Chaoliruo brothers to Zhiqu, and large tracts of land were cultivated, planting seedlings for buckwheat, wheat, beans, and sesame. By the golden autumn, every family in the Yi villages celebrated a bountiful harvest.
To honor the brothers for their contributions to developing Zhiqu, the elders were determined to find them suitable partners. When the elders consulted the brothers about whom they preferred, Chaoliruo said he would marry the girl who was skillful, while Chaolaruo expressed his love for the natural beauty of Zhiqu and said he would marry the girl who could embroider the mountains and rivers of Zhiqu onto her clothing. The elders announced the brothers’ conditions for choosing brides throughout the village and decreed that all the village girls would participate in a garment competition on the mountaintop, in the woods, and under the green canopies on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month the following year. Thus, the village girls busily prepared during the slack farming season: planting mulberry, spinning threads, dyeing threads, cutting, sewing, and embroidering—until the fifteenth day finally arrived. Early in the morning, the elders donned their festive attire, while the Chaoliruo brothers and other young men dressed handsomely. The girls, wearing their self-embroidered garments, flocked to the competition site, where the brothers carefully toured the entire venue, examining the outfits worn by all the girls and each choosing their intended.
To inherit the beautiful, mystical, and alluring legend, the Yi people wear their newly embroidered clothing every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, gathering to compete, sing, and dance, mirroring the brothers’ search for their loved ones. This tradition has been passed down through generations, forming the Yi people’s traditional Garment Festival. In 1987, American cultural expert Mark Bendel traveled a great distance to Zhiqu to attend the Garment Festival and later wrote enthusiastically about it in “Pig Shooting—The Tiger Man with Copper Cannon,” introducing the grandeur of the Zhiqu Garment Festival to the overseas audience.
To promote ethnic traditional culture and raise awareness of the Yongren Yi Garment Festival, various activities are held each year, including Yi clothing competitions, ethnic and folk sports competitions, torch celebrations, mountain songs, Yi cultural inheritance, Bimo performances, and street fairs.
Historical Significance
The Yi “Garment Festival,” which embodies ancient history and rich cultural traditions, originates from ancient sacrificial and “huotou” handover ceremonies. According to historical records, it has a history of over six hundred years. With the opening of the ancient salt road from Shiyang Salt Wells to Sichuan, it has witnessed the fusion of Sichuan and Yi cultures. As an important post along this ancient salt road, Zhiqu has incorporated many new elements into its traditional sacrificial activities, encompassing religious beliefs, agricultural rituals, and various cultural expressions, including clothing, songs, dances, and music. It represents a unique cultural landscape of the Yi people, integrating song and dance competitions, clothing displays, ethnic sports, and trade exchanges. There is a saying among the locals: “When the hulusi sounds, the feet begin to itch.” At present’s garment competition, elderly grandmothers dance alongside toddlers who have just learned to walk—everyone joyfully dances, showcasing the beauty of their costumes. With thousands of participants and spectators, the atmosphere is lively and grand. Most Yi clothing is predominantly red, with “rooster hats” worn atop, and the entire ensemble, including clothes, pants, shoes, and hats, is adorned with stunning colors and intricate embroidery, creating a breathtaking world of flowers.
Nature of the Festival
The garment competition is not only about displaying beautiful attire but also serves as an excellent venue for Yi youth to express their affections and find love. During the day, women of all ages dance together, led by a few elders who must lead the way for others to join in gradually. Many young girls change several vibrant outfits throughout the day to present themselves. All the males in the vicinity are only spectators and judges. During this time, some young men attentively observe and assess each girl on the dance floor, hoping to find a talented embroiderer to become their beloved. As night falls, it’s the time for these unmarried young men and women; many lovebirds secretly meet. It becomes a Yi masked dance party. Under the bright moonlight, young couples meet frequently, singing by the spring or whispering under the trees while the girls play leaf flutes and mouth harps, and the boys play bamboo flutes and hulusi. As the saying goes, “The garment competition lasts until sunset, and the dancing goes on until the moon is high.” In addition to the garment competition, the Yi Garment Festival also includes various ethnic sports competitions such as plowing, tying bundles, crossbow shooting, stilt walking, shoulder lifting, and rope pulling. This is the moment for Yi young men to demonstrate their strength and wisdom, and it is also essential for Yi girls to choose their life partners.
Festival Customs
In places like Yongren, Yunnan, the Yi people hold the annual Garment Festival. During this time, girls as young as six and elderly women up to eighty years old wear their most cherished and beautiful embroidered garments, flocking together to participate in the joyous Garment Festival, showcasing their exquisite skills and intelligence while learning from each other’s experience. They admire and exchange ideas, competing to see whose clothing is the most beautiful and whose skills are the best. They also sing and dance together until their joy finally disperses.
The Yi people are primarily distributed across Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, with a population of over 6.57 million, the highest in Yunnan, accounting for over 4.05 million. The Yi are the largest ethnic minority in Yunnan, comprising about 60% of the overall Yi population in China. The Yi people are widely distributed throughout most counties and cities in Yunnan, with a more concentrated presence in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the Ailao Mountain region, the Wumeng Mountain area, and the Daliang Mountain area in northwestern Yunnan. The Yi have a long history, with their own language and script, and their folk cultural arts are vibrant and diverse. Their “Solar Calendar” and “Twelve Animal Zodiac” have unique features. They are known by various names, mainly including Sani and Axi.
Traditional Culture
The “Garment Festival” serves as a “living fossil” of Yi traditional culture and is a prominent expression of it, possessing significant anthropological, ethnological, and folkloric research value. Therefore, Yongren County is applying for the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage status for the “Garment Festival.”
The Garment Festival symbolizes the handover ritual of “huotou” power and associated sacrificial activities, presided over by the “huotou,” who embodies the religious, military, and political triad. Numerous ceremonial rites of primitive agricultural worship, ethnic beliefs, and cultural creations have been preserved in the activities of the Garment Festival. The Yi Garment Festival not only reflects the political organization forms of primitive tribes but also encompasses almost all forms of art within Yi culture, including song, dance, music, and embroidery. It showcases a diverse spectrum of cultural expressions, including sacrificial culture, clothing culture, marriage customs, and cultural traditions of the ancient salt road. The most representative element is Yi clothing, richly adorned with flowers in bold colors, exquisite compositions, flexible stitching, and unique craftsmanship—each stitch an artwork, every flower and petal a cultural symbol. Throughout its long development, the accompanying song and dance arts have established their unique patterns, while the activities themselves continuously develop and enhance skills. Due to its significant impact on folk cultural life, it has become an essential stage for artisans in Yi folk songs, dances, music, and crafts to exchange and inherit their skills. It holds immeasurable value for studying the developmental history of Yi traditional music, dance, storytelling, and embroidery. The Yi Garment Festival is, therefore, a representative “business card” of the Yi people, a “living fossil” of traditional Yi culture.
Fashion Show
The Lantern Festival is also the annual “Garment Festival” of some Yi in Yongren County and Dayao County in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, where Yi girls can fully display the beauty of their clothing and adornments. It is said that the Yi have been holding the “Garment Festival” on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month for hundreds of years. Early in the morning, girls don their carefully embroidered garments from the past year, as bright as the blossoming mountain peach flowers, playfully making their way along the mountain paths to the “Garment Competition.” Young Yi men, in groups of three or five, play hulusi flutes, seeking their beloved at the competition. Fathers and mothers also come, concerned about their children’s lifelong affairs. Brothers from nearby ethnic groups also arrive to witness the talented Yi girls showcase their clothing.
Yi women are skilled embroiderers, deriving inspiration from nature—elements like rain, thunder, the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, wood, stone, animals, and flowers feature prominently in their embroidery. They do not just embroider flowers on hats, clothes, and waist wraps; they also create various patterns on bags, shoes, and insoles, making their artworks simple in composition, exaggerated in form, striking in tone, and vividly colorful, to provide an aesthetic delight.
Competition Format
The garment competition begins at noon with a collective match. Each village’s skilled embroiderers form teams, entering the stage one after another, dancing gracefully to the accompaniment of suona and lusheng, showcasing their beautiful clothing and elegant dance moves to win honor for their village. After the group performances, families spread out for free performances. Some families, dressed in beautiful clothes, gather under trees for people to admire their lovely apparel while enjoying the delicious foods they’ve brought. Others hang their embroidered hats, waist wraps, hand sleeves, and lace pants on trees or lay them on the ground for public display, reminiscent of a clothing exhibition.
At the competition site, some girls constantly change their outfits, swapping seven or eight pieces in a single day. They wear one outfit and stroll through the crowd to attract attention, showcasing their skills. If a young Yi man has eyes for a girl, he might sneak away with one of her embroidered pieces to the woods outside. If the girl is uninterested, she may ignore him, and the young man would naturally return the embroidered gift. However, if she has feelings for him, she playfully demands her piece back and runs after the young man into the woods.
The “Garment Festival” does not have judges or rankings; it ultimately depends on the feelings of the lovers whether they see the most skillful and beautiful. At noon, groups of Yi girls dressed in pink outfits elegantly arrive, filling the venue with bright colors. The competition ground has become a sea of people, as thousands of tourists from Kunming, Dayao, Yuanmou, and Panzhihua in Sichuan flock to Zhiqu, converging at this high-altitude area of 2,189 meters. They enjoy a cup of Yi rice wine and taste sweet honey-covered buckwheat cakes.
After a sincere offering by the Bimo elder for the successful hosting of the Garment Festival, teams of participants from all ages join hands to the accompaniment of lusheng, performing traditional Yi “three stomps” dances and showcasing the garments they have lovingly embroidered and sewn.
Characteristics of Clothing
Upon closer examination, each person’s clothing possesses unique features. The compositions and color usage differ greatly. The simplicity and complexity in the designs, the exaggerated forms of the images, and contrasting tones leave a lasting impression. Guests who have come to experience the festival are enraptured by the scene. Teams of skilled embroiderers dance to the sounds of suona and lusheng, the brilliant colors clashing vibrantly with the interplay of light and shadow. It feels as though the world morphs into a kaleidoscope of beauty, with dazzling and unusual clothing aesthetics and vibrant yet elegant colors exuding endless charm.
The Garment Festival is a celebration of beauty and intellect, showcasing the creativity and skill of Yi women to the fullest. They stitch vibrant threads into expressions of their longing, love, and experiences of beauty. They embroider not only on hats, clothes, and pants but also on bags, shoes, and insoles, filling them with intricate designs.
Dancing
“Dancing” is another important activity of the Garment Festival. People form a circle hand-in-hand, joyfully singing and dancing to the tune of the erhu. The melody and steps transition from soft to strong, gradually quickening. As the dance reaches its climax, the movements become more synchronized, creating an upbeat and lively atmosphere. In the evening, the moon shines brightly, as if just lifted from the water, illuminating the night sky and casting the layered peaks in a snowy glow. Bonfires dot the clearing as young men and women clasp hands, dancing joyfully to the beautiful melodies of the erhu and graceful music until dawn.
Introduction to the Torch Festival
- Chinese Name: 楚雄市彝族火把节
- English Name: Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture
- Location: Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture
The Torch Festival is a symbol of Yi culture, celebrated during the Yi New Year, and is the most important and grandest festival in Yi tradition. With rich folk cultural connotations, it is renowned both domestically and internationally, often referred to as the “Carnival of the East.”
Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is one of the two Yi autonomous prefectures in China and is the most popular and grandest region for the Torch Festival in the country. In 2005, the “Chuxiong Yi Torch Festival” was included in the first batch of the national intangible cultural heritage protection list.
Throughout history, on the night of the Torch Festival each year, various ethnic groups celebrate together in the same region. From villages to towns, from mountains to plains, everyone lights torches and gathers hand in hand to form a circle, singing and dancing. Elders play the dusty moon guitar, young men play flutes that have not been touched for a long time, and young women play the mouth harp hanging on their chests, praying for a bountiful harvest and thriving livestock, while singing about a beautiful life. Under the moonlight, torches flicker and bonfires blaze like stars falling from the sky, creating a world of fire and an ocean of song and dance.
In today’s era of reform and opening up, illuminated by the brilliance of the party’s ethnic policies, the Torch Festival has gained new dimensions of mass participation, entertainment, and diversity. People not only inherit and carry forward its fine traditions but also integrate the spirit of the times, creating a new scene. For example, during the festival, numerous domestic and international tourists flock to the area for shopping and trading, often outnumbering the locals. The Torch Festival has become a means and opportunity to attract people from all walks of life for sightseeing, tourism, and trade discussions.
Various cultural and sporting performances are becoming increasingly rich and colorful year by year, and folk festivals naturally transform into regional festivals, evolving from rural celebrations to urban and rural events, and from a single-ethnic festival to a multi-ethnic shared celebration. Few people truly know and understand the Yi people, but when the “Torch Festival” and “Axi Dance” are mentioned, they will not feel unfamiliar. However, to truly appreciate the authentic Torch Festival, one must be in the countryside, especially in remote villages away from urban areas, to experience the genuine customs and traditions.
The Torch Festival is not only a traditional holiday for every family but also a time for relatives and friends to gather and socialize, enriching lives and promoting neighborly friendships.
Legend of the Torch Festival
Long ago, in a Yi village at the foot of Hongshan near Zhaojiadian in Dayao County, there lived a smart, beautiful, and kind-hearted girl named Nuona, who was deeply in love with a brave young man named Acha from a nearby village. That year, the insidious and cruel mountain chief Moha chose a girl to be his angry concubine, hoping to occupy the beautiful Nuona for himself. Under Moha’s oppressive rule, the brave Acha, using cleverness to overcome strength, defeated the treacherous Moha with his superb skills. In anger, Moha used witchcraft to crack the earth beneath them, causing Acha to fall into an abyss. Fortunately, he was rescued by the villagers.
While Acha was in peril, Nuona faced the dangers of Moha’s clutches. Moha led his soldiers to surround Nuona’s home, trying to take her as his bride. To avoid being captured, Nuona climbed down a cliff and fled her home in search of Acha. Exhausted, she tragically died at the bottom of the cliff. Her figure is said to eternally reflect on the cliff, which is why it is called “White Person Cliff.” After being rescued from the split mountain, Acha rushed straight to Nuona’s home, only to find her parents had been killed by Moha. Heartbroken, he buried them and searched through the mountains until he finally discovered Nuona’s white silhouette left on Hongya.
Desperate, Acha considered jumping off the cliff to be with Nuona. The villagers came to dissuade him and discussed revenge with him. The next day (June 25), Acha and villagers from eight mountains and three towns marched toward Moha’s home carrying thousands of torches, burning down Moha’s palace and killing the wicked Moha, avenging Nuona and relieving the villagers’ hatred.
Traditionally, the “Torch Festival” is held on June 24 of the lunar calendar, but it is celebrated on “June 25” here because it commemorates the day when the brave Acha and the villagers avenged their sorrow. On the day of the Torch Festival, people in the Yi villages light torches made of pine wood, using the blazing flames to illuminate their surroundings, burn away insects, ward off evil, and symbolize good fortune and happiness. Participants exchange torches as a sign of respect, and burn “Zhu Chong” (a form of offering), to signify cleanliness and peace. They then take torches into the fields, waving them to attract moths and burn pests. After the parade, they place the torches at the edges of the fields and in open areas before gathering around the fire to dance joyfully, while the elders sit nearby, opening fragrant fire wine and toasting each other, wishing for good fortune. People also bring home their married daughters for the celebration. On this day, pigs and sheep are slaughtered, and families share meals to signify reunions.
On the day of the Torch Festival, mountain people from nearby Yuanmou, Yongren, Longjie, and other places bring their mountain goods and local products, riding mules and horses over the hills to Zhaojiadian. They set up tents and cook, displaying rows of fresh produce and bowls of fragrant lamb and beef soup, enchanting passersby. At night, on relatively flat hillsides, bonfires are lit, and Yi young men play the sanxian (three-stringed lute) while the young women join hands and dance around the fires, amidst the crackling flames that rise high into the sky, dancing until dawn.
Activities of the Torch Festival
- Left Foot Dance
- Bullfighting
- Horse Riding
The festival lasts for three days. The Yi people believe that celebrating the Torch Festival will cause the grain spikes to grow thick like torches. The descendants use this festival to honor the fire and drive away evil spirits from their homes and fields, ensuring safety for people and livestock. During the festival, young men and women from various ethnic groups light torches made of pine wood and participate in various activities in the villages and fields, walking while sprinkling resin on the torches to pray for prosperity and eliminate impurities; they may engage in dances, bullfighting, wrestling, horseback riding, shooting, torch performances, and releasing sky lanterns; or hold large bonfire parties for all-night revelry. Additionally, trade activities are conducted during the festivities.
Delicious Foods of the Torch Festival
The Torch Festival is also a time for feasting throughout the year. Although the organization and activities of the Torch Festival among the Yi people in Chuxiong vary, the custom of each family preparing the best dishes to feast with their households, the entire village, or inviting friends and guests is universal.
Due to their living environment, the Yi people of Chuxiong have developed unique dietary customs. Animal-based foods mainly include pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens, and insects; plant-based foods consist primarily of wild fungi, flowers, and leaves. Staple foods include rice, corn, wheat, potatoes, and buckwheat. Cooking methods vary, including roasting, frying, steaming, boiling, pickling, pounding, and chopping. Beverages include homemade rice wine, fire jar wine, and tea, and sweet wine can be made from pumpkins, bananas, and buckwheat.
The Yi culinary repertoire features many dishes, such as lamb soup, stir-fried walnut flowers, dry-fried banana hearts, buckwheat cakes, pickled tender shoots, corn rice, cold mixed bananas, pork with poria, water celery, cold mixed flower tree, tofu sausage, fish heart grass, boiled wild yam, fungi, frogs, cold mixed green prickly ash, cold mixed podocarpus branches, stir-fried soapberry, etc.
Delicious Foods of the Torch Festival
- Lamb Soup
The Yi people are a community that worships fire, and the “Torch Festival” is the most grand and culturally distinctive traditional festival with widespread participation in Chuxiong Prefecture. Celebrating the Torch Festival not only promotes and preserves Yi culture but also showcases Chuxiong’s charm and enriches festive culture, while also promoting the scientific, harmonious, and leapfrog development of the economy and society in Chuxiong.
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- 1 Day Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour with Glacier Park Cableway (5396M) and Impression Lijiang Show
- 10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with the Upper Yangtze River Rafting Tour
- 3 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Speed Train Tour from Kunming
- 3 Days 2 Nights Kunming Spring City Golf Course and Lake Resort Tour Package
- 14 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Self-Driving Tour from Mohan (Laos) to Ruili (Myanmar)
- 10 Days Yunnan Trekking Tour of Tiger Leaping Gorge and from Baoshan Stone Town to Lugu Lake
Chinese Bayberry Festival in Chuxiong City
Overview Chinese Name: 楚雄市杨梅节 English Name: Chinese Bayberry Festival in Chuxiong City Location:楚雄市中山镇，大过口乡，三街镇/Chuxiong City, Zhongshan Town, Daguokou Township. Sanjie Town Lengends of the Festival Every year on the sixth...
Inviting God Playing Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City
Overview Chinese Name: 楚雄市三街镇请神来玩节 English Name: Inviting God Playing Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City Location: 楚雄市三街镇上新房村委会大丫口村/Dayakou Village, Shangxinfang Village Committee, Sanjie Town, Chuxiong City Lengend of the...
Kaijing Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Dayao County, Chuxiong
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 大姚县石羊镇开井节 English Name: Kaijing Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Dayao County, Chuxiong Location:大姚县石羊镇/Dayao County, Shiyang Town The Yi Ethnic Group’s Opening Well Festival is...
Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market in Kunming
Introduction Located at Yongdao Street (甬道街), Jingxing Flowers and Birds Market was opened for business in 1983, gathering vendors selling flowers, birds, fish and so on, and finally became...
Dragon Worship Festival in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
Chinese Name: 双柏县法脿镇彝族祭龙节 English Name: Dragon Worship Festival in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Location:双柏县法脿镇雨龙村委会和法甸村委会 The Dragon Worship Festival in Shuangbai County, located in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province,...
Xinmin-Lawan National Unity Day in Yaoan and Mouding Counties, Chuxiong
Chinese Name: 姚安县新民-牟定县腊湾民族团结日 English Name: Xinmin-Lawan National Unity Day in Yaoan and Mouding Counties, Chuxiong Location:姚安县前场镇新民村委会与牟定县凤屯镇腊湾村委会 March 23, that is, February 15 of the lunar month, was the 25th...
Siyueba (April 8th) Festival/Water Splashing Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong
Overview Chinese Name: 武定县东坡傣族乡傣族四月八/泼水节 English Name: Siyueba (April 8th) Festival/Water Splashing Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong Location: Dongpo Dai Ethnic Town of Wuding County, Chuxiong/武定县东坡傣族乡 The Water Splashing Festival,...
Taiping Lehui Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Mouding County, Chuxiong
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 牟定县扭柴河村太平乐会 English Name: Taiping Lehui Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Mouding County, Chuxiong Location:Niuchaihe Village of Gonghe Town in Mouding County/牟定县共和镇清河村委会扭柴河村 The Taiping Lehui...
Huagu (Flower Drum) Culture Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 双柏县安龙堡乡花鼓文化节 English Name: Huagu (Flower Drum) Culture Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Shuangbai County, Chuxiong Location: Anlongbao Town of Shuangbai County/双柏县安龙堡乡 Anlongbao Township in...
Eryueba (February 8th) Festival/Luowu Ethnic Song Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 武定县万德乡二月八/罗婺歌会 English Name: Eryueba (February 8th) Festival/Luowu Ethnic Song Festival in Wuding County, Chuxiong Location:武定县万德乡/”Wande Township, Wuding County The Eryueba (February 8th) Festival, al ...
Chuxiong Nationalities Saizhuang (Costume Competition) Festival
Basic Introduction Chinese Name: 楚雄民族赛装文化节 English Name: Chuxion Nationalities Saizhuang (Costume Competition) Festival Location: Chuxiong City Festival Dates:March 28th, and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The...
Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture
Introduction to the Torch Festival Chinese Name: 楚雄市彝族火把节 English Name: Torch Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture Location: Chuxiong City, Chuxiong Prefecture The Torch Festival...
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