Benzhu Worship and Knife-ladder-climbing Festival in Qingshan Village of Shuanglang Town, Dali

Overview

• Chinese Name: 大理双廊镇青山村本主节(上刀山/刀山会)
• English Name: Benzhu Worship and Knife-ladder-climbing Festival in Qingshan Village of Shuanglang Town, Dali
• Location: Qingshan Village of Shuanglang Town, Dali

Benzhu is a unique religious belief of the Bai ethnic group in the Dali area and is an important component of Dali's historical and cultural heritage. The term Benzhu means "the lord of this realm" and refers to the protective deity of a village or several villages. The deities worshipped as Benzhu are numerous and varied, including legendary gods, emperors, loyal officials, heroes, righteous figures, filial sons, virtuous women, and a small number of nature deities. Almost every village has a Benzhu temple, which houses wooden carvings or clay sculptures of the Benzhu. The birthday of the village’s Benzhu is celebrated as a grand festival, and thus the Benzhu worshiped and the dates of the Benzhu festival vary from village to village. Villagers visit the Benzhu temple to pray for blessings, regardless of whether they are aspiring for wealth and power, facing hardships and illnesses, or celebrating childbirth.

The Benzhu festival follows a set of basic procedures, including inviting the deity, welcoming the deity, sacrificing to the deity, and entertaining the deity. The Benzhu returns to the Benzhu temple, with the festivities lasting for one day or several days. Accompanied by the beautiful and melodious music of the Dongjing (a type of traditional music) and various folk songs and dances, along with different unique features from each village, this festival has been passed down through thousands of years, forming a distinct Benzhu culture in the Bai ethnic region.

Qingshan Village, located in Shuanglang Town of Dali City, lies by the shores of Erhai Lake and has a rich historical and cultural heritage. It is a Bai village situated near the mountains and water. The villagers have the custom of worshipping Benzhu, and the fourth day of the first lunar month is celebrated as Qingshan Village’s Benzhu festival every year.

A major feature of the Benzhu festival in Qingshan Village is the "Chopping Mountain" ceremony, which is exceptionally grand and captivating, showcasing a distinctive charm within the Benzhu festival of the Bai people in Dali.

In the past, the Benzhu festival's "Chopping Mountain" was also popular in places like Shangcun near Xiaguan Town, such as Jiangjun Cave, but the performance was quite difficult and has since been lost to time. It is hoped that the "Chopping Mountain" activity of the Benzhu festival in Qingshan Village can be passed down through generations.

In the early morning, people gather at the square next to the Benzhu temple in the village to burn incense and pray.

The preparations were very serious and meticulous, with clearly defined divisions of labor, and the information was publicly posted.

The atmosphere became lively and vibrant, with lively movements like dragons flying and phoenixes dancing