Li Yongfen – Representative Inheritor of Female Sun Festival Project in Xichou County, Wenshan 

Name: Li Yongfen
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Zhuang
Date of Birth: 1947
Place of Birth: Shangguo Village, Wachang Village Committee, Xisai Town, Xichou County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

Li Yongfen is a representative inheritor of the Women’s Sun Festival. (文山州西畴县西洒镇女子太阳节项目代表性传承人 – 李永芬)

The Women’s Sun Festival is held annually on the first day of the second lunar month to commemorate the return of the sun to the sky, praying for good weather, prosperity, and abundant offspring, based on an ancient and magical folk legend. Women in the local area conduct ritual activities to worship the sun, passing down the tradition from generation to generation, from elders to youngsters, and among women.

In 1964, Li Yongfen learned to chant ancient songs for sun worship, such as planting songs, harvest songs, marriage songs, children’s songs, and mountain songs, from Tian Jinqiong. As folk artists such as Wang Xingfen, Li Kaiyuan, and Tian Jinqiong passed away successively, Li Yongfen became the main presenter and lead singer of chanting ancient songs and reciting sun worship verses in the local Women’s Sun Festival ritual activities. She is proficient in Zhuang traditional festival etiquette and ritual activities, singing various songs in Zhuang language on the spot for festivals, weddings, love, and labor, organizing villagers to sing ancient songs for sun worship, and conducting traditional singing and dancing activities.

Currently, she actively leads apprentices such as Lu Shunmei, Lu Shiqiong, Lu Tingying, and Lu Yongxiang in the inheritance of Women’s Sun Festival activities.

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