Pig-Killing Festival (Nianzhufan) of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name:布朗族年猪饭
English Name:  Pig-Killing Festival (Nianzhufan) of Bulang Ethnic Minority

Pig-Killing Festival(年猪饭) is a traditional custom of Bulang Nationality in Shidian County(施甸县). Both winter and the twelfth month of the lunar calendar every year, every family do the same thing that is pig-killing. Sometimes pig-killing will occur not only in the same family but also in the same day. Relatives and friends enjoyed a happy gathering. So dinner as a reason for the party.

In addition, formed a deep local special dishes which is pickled vegetables mixing with pork tenderloin(花水腌菜拌猪生里脊肉).(the popular name is called uncooked meat of pork/猪生 ) with pickled vegetables mixing with roast suckling pig(花水腌菜拌火烧肉皮). Chopped pork liver cold and dressed with sauce(剁生猪肝凉拌). Cooked pig blood steak(血蘸薄片肉). The custom of pork-killing to be lost, and there are many changes in the inheritance.

In 1958, the communistic belief has strong impact on humans. Before the reform and opening up policy, Collective corporation, unite commune. collective labor period, Bulang’s pig-killing festival has been missing for more than 20 years. At that time it was difficult for the general public to eat wear and shelter. When food is not available, pig-killing become unsustainable. When the author was a child, he had experienced the scene of eating one meal without the next. Few families are able to slaughter pigs during the Spring Festival. The policy at the time stipulated that anyone who butchered a pig must pay half of it to the state. The country pays the money for merchant according to the standard meat price at that time. Pig’s head can keep by ourselves. But we must pay the tax for pig’s head. Therefore, pork has been eaten up during the spring festival. Some families have no chance to eat. Families depend on food supply for the government or call relatives for help. The food is composed of Roughage, buckwheat, Corn, potato and radish. sometimes Dioscorea japonica and Chinese banana root,as for food. Even though when recall my childhood, my friends in hazhai, including me is  underfed. Since the reform and opening up, Bulang shanzhai’s life has changed dramatically. the household contract responsibility system has been implemented.

Nowadays,every family in shidian Bulang  has a warehouse full of grain.every family can eat rice, Traditional customs of pig-killing were quickly restored. Ham,sausage of toufu Bone residue,natto, Pickled shredded and Pickled pig’ head and so on,not only the special dishes for shidian bulang but also Gradually extend to the whole county,the dishes also exported to other places and popular with all ethnic group.

The custom of pig-killing in the village of bulang nationality is different from pig-killing of local people of shidian.

Example, people kill pig must avoid the animal zodiac,if not,call the head of family for help. When you kill the pig, you should place the fruit cake, wine, rice sugar, tea and other things in the center of the patio. Which means “Tian Di “Put the knife on the table. the function is fending off evil. Presented tea wine, ginger, salt, rice and other offerings, burned paper fire, throw a few rice before eating. And then use the “knife” which is on the table to kill pig In the courtyard. After enshrine for the mountain people can eat.

Translated by Xu Min/徐敏