Shangwang Festival of Bani Ethnic People in Lushui City, Nujiang

• Chinese Name: 怒江泸水巴尼人尚旺节
• English Name: Shangwang Festival of Bani Ethnic People in Lushui City, Nujiang
• Date: March
• Place: Luobenzhuo Township, Lushui County, Nujiang Prefecture
• Meaning of Shangwang: In the Bai ethnic language, "Shangwang" means the third month of the year.

Overview

The Shangwang Festival is a traditional event celebrated by the Bani people, a subgroup of the Bai ethnic group in Luobenzhuo Township of Lushui County, Nujiang Prefecture. The Bani people are also known as "Lemo" or "Miaowang" and refer to themselves as "Bani," meaning "people who came from across the mountains" (specifically from the eastern side of Biluo Snow Mountain). The Bani people are an indigenous ethnic group, primarily residing on the terraces along both sides of the Nujiang River, with a population of over 10,000, of which about 7,000 live in Luobenzhuo Bai Ethnic Township.

Cultural Background

Luobenzhuo Bai Ethnic Township is located at the northern end of Lushui County, within the Nujiang Gorge, bordering Pihe Nu Ethnic Township in Fugong County to the north, Yingpan Town in Lanping County to the east, Myanmar to the west, and Gudeng Township in Lushui County to the south. The township covers an area of 267 square kilometers with a border length of 11.4 kilometers.

The Bani people have their own language, which belongs to the northern dialect of the Bai language, with Luobenzhuo as its representative dialect. Although they have no written script, they have preserved their history through oral tradition, faithfully passing it down through generations.

Bani Clan Structure

According to oral history from Bani elders, the Bani people consist of three major clans: the Tiger Clan, the Chicken Clan, and the Wood Clan.

Festivities and Traditions

The Bani people are known for their love of singing and dancing, their hospitality, diligence, and courage. They have long lived and thrived in the high mountains and deep gorges, contributing to the development of the Nujiang region and strengthening China's southwestern borders.

The Bani people celebrate four major festivals:

1. "Zujiawang" - The New Year, similar to the Chinese Spring Festival.
2. "Zushangwang" - The Production Festival, the most important festival after the New Year.
3. "Zuhuawang" - The Torch Festival, also known as the Harvest Festival.
4. "Zuranji" - Equivalent to the La Yue Festival observed by other Chinese ethnic groups.

Shangwang Festival

The Shangwang Festival is a traditional festival of the Bani people living in Luobenzhuo Bai Ethnic Township. "Shangwang" is also known as the Production Festival and translates to "March" in the Bani language, symbolizing the beginning of the agricultural year with the saying, "A year's plan starts in spring." The festival is held on the first Pig Day of March each year, marking the start of another year of agricultural work and praying for good weather and a bountiful harvest.

Historical Legend

The festival's origins are rooted in a legend: Long ago, a devastating plague swept through all the villages, leaving many children orphaned and homeless. These children, lacking parental guidance, didn't know how to farm or missed the planting season, often resulting in poor harvests. A surviving elder gathered these children, teaching them how to gather firewood, farm, and care for their crops, gradually improving their lives year by year. Fearing that after his death, the children might forget the farming seasons and struggle again, the elder started gathering the villagers every year on the first Pig Day of March, when peach blossoms bloom and cuckoos sing, to hold the "Xingshangwang" festival. This marked the arrival of the farming season, hoping for a year of good weather and abundant harvests, which became the origin of the "Shangwang" Festival.

Festival Activities

During the festival, various sectors of the community present unique cultural performances. Traditional sports events such as bamboo pole climbing, spinning top competitions, tug-of-war, arm wrestling, crossbow shooting, swing rides, 100-meter sprints, and more are held. There are also cultural events like the Bani people's "Badogaoong" (a form of love song duet) and an all-night bonfire party, showcasing the unique charm of Bani culture.