Shilin International Torch Festival and Carnival, Kunming

Introduction of The Festival

Chinese Name: 石林国际火把节和狂欢节
English Name: Shilin International Torch Festival and Carnival, Kunming
Location: Shilin, Kunming
Date: June 24th of the Lunar Calendar

According to legend, in ancient times, there was a chieftain named Mugeni Sai, who inherited a magical sword from his father. As long as he recited a spell, the sword would take the life of anyone who opposed him; therefore, he was extremely violent, cruel, and unpredictable. The slaves repeatedly rebelled but always lost their lives under the power of the sword. Later, one slave came up with a good idea: they tied torches to the horns of the sheep, set them on fire, and drove the "Fire Sheep" to besiege the chieftain's castle. Mugeni Sai recited incantations from the top of the castle, but the magical sword could never sever the flames. The slaves continued to charge forward with their "Fire Sheep." Suspecting that the sword had lost its power, he hurriedly tested it on himself and ended up cutting off his own head. The slaves broke into the castle and achieved victory. This day happened to be the twenty-fourth day of the sixth lunar month, and thus the Torch Festival was established. The legend of the Torch Festival has been passed down as the traditional ethnic festival of the Sani people of the Yi nationality in Shilin.

The Activities of The Festival

The main activities include bullfighting, sheep fighting, cockfighting, horse racing, wrestling, singing and dancing performances, and beauty contests. In the new era, the Torch Festival has been endowed with new cultural functions and has taken on new forms. The Yi Torch Festival generally lasts for three days and nights, divided into three stages: welcoming the fire, playing with fire, and sending off the fire.

First Day of the Torch Festival: Worship the Fire

On this day, every village will slaughter cattle and sheep for a communal feast, preparing food and wine to honor their ancestors. As night falls, people from neighboring villages will set up a sacrificial altar at a location chosen by the elders. Using traditional methods, they will strike stones to create fire and ignite the sacred flame, reciting prayers led by a Bimo (a traditional Yi priest). Then, households, including adults and children, will receive torches made of mugwort grass from the Bimo and walk around the fields, imitating the legend of Ashima, who used fire to drive away insects.

Second Day of the Torch Festival: Passing the Fire

On this day, families gather beneath the sacred fire at the altar to hold various traditional festival activities. Young men will imitate the legendary Atibaba by participating in horse racing, wrestling, singing, bullfighting, sheep fighting, and cockfighting. Young women will emulate the legendary Ashima, dressed in beautiful clothing, holding butter umbrellas, and performing the "Duo Luo He" and "Da Ti" dances. The most important activity of the day is the beauty contest among the Yi people. The elders will select the annual "handsome man" and "beautiful woman" from among the young men and women based on the legendary standards of Atibaba's industriousness and bravery, and Ashima's kindness, intelligence, beauty, and grace. As night falls, pairs of loving couples will gather in the mountains and by the streams, playing the moon lute and plucking the jaw harp, expressing their love for each other. Therefore, the Liangshan Yi International Torch Festival is sometimes referred to as the "Eastern Valentine's Day."

Third Day of the Torch Festival: Sending Off the Fire

This is the climax of the Liangshan Yi International Torch Festival. As night falls on this day, everyone will hold torches and rush about, gathering their torches together to form huge bonfires. Joyful people will gather around the fire, singing and dancing freely.