Lu Wenxue - Representative Inheritor of Hani "Ang Ma Tu" Sacrificial Festival Project in Yuanyang County, Honghe

Lu Wenxue (倮候) – Guardian of the Hani Sacred Grove Ritual (祭寨神林)

Lu Wenxue (卢文学, also known as 倮候), born in 1953 in Dayutang Village (大鱼塘村), Tuguozhai Village Committee (土锅寨村委会), Xinjie Town (新街镇), Yuanyang County (元阳县), Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (红河哈尼族彝族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), is the core inheritor of the national-level intangible cultural heritage project “Sacred Grove Ritual (祭寨神林)”, also known as the Angmatu Festival (昂玛突节). He is widely recognized as one of the most influential Hani priests in the region.

The Path of Transmission and His Cultural Role

A Priesthood Family Lineage

Lu Wenxue was born into a hereditary family of “Migu (咪谷)”, the ritual priests of the Hani people. At the age of 17, he began studying under his father, Lu Wenming (卢文明), learning the complete liturgy, procedures, and ancient regulations of the Sacred Grove Ritual.

From Student to Respected Village Priest

Due to his integrity and deep knowledge of traditional Hani ethics, he was trusted by villagers and in 1985 was chosen by the community to serve as the village’s Migu.

As a priest, he fully masters the complex ceremonies of the Angmatu Festival (昂玛突节). His responsibilities include:

• Choosing auspicious dates for rituals

• Preparing sacrificial offerings

• Leading solemn prayers and sacrifices

• Distributing offerings and organizing the grand communal feast known as the Long Street Banquet (长街宴)

• Judging villagers’ moral conduct in accordance with traditional norms

In every major stage—inviting the gods, installing the gods, and offering blessings—Lu acts as the key mediator between humans and the divine, embodying the village’s spiritual authority.

The Deep Cultural Meaning of the Angmatu Festival (昂玛突节)

Nature Worship

The Sacred Grove Ritual (祭寨神林) is at the heart of the Angmatu Festival. For the Hani people, the sacred grove beside each village is the dwelling place of Angma (昂玛), the protective deity who governs peace, prosperity, and agricultural abundance. Through ritual worship, the community seeks blessings for good harvests, healthy livestock, and harmony with nature.

Social Function

The ritual is not only a religious event but also a powerful social institution. It reinforces community ethics, strengthens bonds among villagers, and provides a framework for moral guidance. By participating collectively, the Hani reaffirm their cultural identity and cohesion.

Transmission and Influence

Since becoming the Migu of Dayutang Village (大鱼塘村), Lu Wenxue has ensured the Sacred Grove Ritual is preserved in its authentic and standardized form. He has trained a group of disciples so that every member of the ritual team can inherit the tradition.

Beyond the village, he has:

• Participated in academic research and interviews

• Contributed to documentaries and media coverage

• Engaged in cultural training and education programs

Through these efforts, Lu has played a vital role in the preservation, study, and promotion of this national intangible cultural heritage, ensuring the Hani people’s sacred traditions continue to thrive in modern times.

✨ For travelers, experiencing the Angmatu Festival (昂玛突节) in Yuanyang (元阳县) offers a rare chance to witness a living ritual that combines spirituality, nature worship, and community unity, passed down through centuries by devoted priests like Lu Wenxue.