Kui Shouxing - Representative Inheritor of Yi Flower-arranging Festival Project in Dayao County, Chuxiong

Kui Shouxing (奎寿兴), born in 1942 in Matoushan Hamlet (马头山小组), Jianshuitang Village Committee (涧水塘村委会), Jinbi Town (金碧镇), Dayao County (大姚县), Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (楚雄彝族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), is the core inheritor of the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage project “Dayao Yi Flower Insertion Festival (大姚彝族插花节)”.

The Path of Transmission and His Cultural Role

Learning from Elders

From his youth, Kui Shouxing immersed himself in the cultural traditions of his people, learning the legends, rituals, and ancient “Zuojiao Diao (左脚调)” folk songs associated with the Flower Insertion Festival.

A Living Encyclopedia

Through decades of study and practice, he mastered the entire process of the festival—from preparations to rituals—and became known locally as a “living encyclopedia” and the chief organizer of the celebrations.

Cultural Guide

Beyond organizing, Kui also plays the role of a cultural interpreter. Before the festival, he guides young people to the mountains to collect horse chestnut blossoms (马缨花) for rituals and decoration. During the celebrations, he actively participates in rituals, tells visitors the moving legends behind the festival, and teaches traditional Yi songs.

The Unique Dayao Yi Flower Insertion Festival (大姚彝族插花节)

The Legend of Miyi Lu (咪依噜)

The festival commemorates Miyi Lu (咪依噜), a kind and courageous Yi maiden. According to legend, she sacrificed herself to save her village by confronting a cruel tyrant. From the spot where her blood fell, pure red horse chestnut blossoms bloomed.

Since then, on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month, Yi communities gather to honor her bravery.

Rituals and Celebrations

• Flower Insertion (插花): Blossoms representing Miyi Lu are placed on doorways, farming tools, and even on the horns of cattle and sheep, symbolizing protection against evil and prayers for well-being.

• Offerings and Songs: Villagers present flowers to a traditional statue of Miyi Lu and sing folk songs in her memory.

• Zuojiao Dance (左脚舞): The festival culminates in a vibrant communal dance, blending worship, remembrance, and joyful celebration.

The event embodies both a memorial to a heroine and a wish for peace, prosperity, and happiness.

Current Preservation

Over the years, Kui Shouxing has dedicated himself to preserving and passing on the traditions of the Flower Insertion Festival. Through oral teaching, he transmits its legends, rituals, and music to younger generations.

Thanks to his guidance, the festival in Jianshuitang (涧水塘) and surrounding villages has been preserved in its authentic form. His lifelong work ensures that this tradition—carrying Yi history, values, and collective memory—continues to flourish with vitality in the modern era.

✨ For travelers, the Dayao Yi Flower Insertion Festival (大姚彝族插花节) offers a heartfelt cultural journey: a chance to witness living legends, join in colorful dances, and experience how the Yi people honor their heroes through flowers, song, and community celebration.