Lianghe County Culture
Ethinic Culture
Yunnan is a kingdom of ethnic minorities, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture proves it. There are 5 original ethnic groups in Dehong, Dai, Jingpo, De’ang, Lisu and Achang, who live together generation by generation. These ethnic minority live cross border. They keep the trade contacts and cultural exchanges. The original inhabitants of this plain are mainly Dai ethnic minority, an ethnic minority with a long history and civilization. The men are gentle and kind, and the women are elegant and hardworking. The mountainous residents are mainly Jingpo people. This is a minority that migrated from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in ancient times. They are brave and unrestrained. Here, travelers can dance with the elegant ethnic girls and play the drum with the strong boys. Peacock Dancing and beautiful songs will gain your attentions. The representative festivals covers Water-splashing Festival of Dai, Munaozongge of Jingpo, Kuoshi Festival of Lisu and Aluwoluo Festival of Achang. Otherwise, Hinayana Buddhism is the major religion in Lianghe. Dai and De’ang ethnic minorities believe in it. The pagodas and Zhuangfang (temple in Dai villages) are built in every Dai villages, which are the typical architectures in Dehong. Most of villages will pray in Zhuangfang and pagodas in certain time. Jingpo people worship nature and their ancestors, which can be seen in their sacrifice ceremony. In general, ethnic culture is the essential part of Lianghe.
Cucurbit flute cultural industry
Finished rosewood cucurbit flutes (Photo from chinadaily.com.cn)
As curcubit flute music from musician Gen Dequan has been widely spread at home and abroad, Dehong has gradually formed a complete cucurbit flute cultural industrial chain.
As a traditional instrument of Dai, Achang and De’ang ethnicities, the history of the cucurbit flute dates back to the pre-Qin era (the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, 770-221 BC).
The Lianghe cucurbit flute has been declared as the only national geographical indications instrument in China by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
