Hu Xuezhong – Representative Inheritor of Yi Knifeladder-Climbing Festival Project in Luzhang Town, Lushui 

Name: Hu Xuezong
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Lisu
Date of Birth: 1965
Place of Birth: Sanchahe Village, Lushui County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Hu Xuezong is a representative inheritor of the Knife Pole Festival (刀杆节) of the Lisu ethnic group.(怒江州泸水市鲁掌镇三岔河村傈僳族刀杆节项目代表性传承人 – 胡学忠)

In 1980, Hu Xuezong became a disciple of the renowned master Li Xueqiang, known far and wide for his mastery of the Knife Pole Festival’s traditional rituals of ascending Knife Mountain and descending into the Sea of Fire. Over time, Hu Xuezong has surpassed his master in skill. Ascending Knife Mountain and descending into the Sea of Fire are the core activities of the Knife Pole Festival, involving rituals such as igniting fires, wielding knives, performing acrobatics with knives, and erecting knife poles. These are essential ceremonial procedures that Hu Xuezong has mastered.

According to Lisu tradition, during the Knife Pole Festival, the first person to ascend the Knife Pole is called the “Breaker of the Knife,” a title reserved for the most skilled individual. Hu Xuezong has consistently served as the “Breaker of the Knife” in every Knife Pole Festival event. He can flawlessly perform acts such as handstands, rotations, blessings with wine, and blessings with sugar on the sharp blades of the knives. During the descent into the Sea of Fire, Hu Xuezong not only navigates and treads through the flames but also holds and carries burning charcoal in his mouth and hands. Due to his exceptional skills, he has been interviewed by various news media outlets, including China Central Television (CCTV), and has performed during major festivals such as the 6th Yunnan Provincial Folk Games and the “Bathtub Meeting” in Nujiang Prefecture.

Hu Xuezong has taken on two apprentices, breaking the tradition that Lisu women do not participate in ascending the Knife Pole. His efforts contribute significantly to the preservation and development of this folk activity.

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