Yashen (Dumb God) Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Nanjian County, Dali

Chinese Name: 大理南涧县哑神节/南涧二月八哑神会
English Name: Yashen Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Nanjian County, Dali
Location: 南涧县公郎镇新合村委会盖瓦洒自然村

According to legend, a long time ago, there was a village called Axule near the village of Gaiwas, where the villagers were well-off and the customs were simple. However, the villagers often gave birth to dumb children. To investigate the reason, the villagers invited a Taoist priest to examine the feng shui. The priest concluded that the presence of the “Dumb God” was causing the issue, and the villagers needed to perform the “Dumb God Dance” to honor, entertain, and send off the Dumb God to prevent the birth of more dumb children. Following the priest’s advice, the villagers began to perform the Dumb God Dance to worship the deity, and it proved effective. Thus, every year on the eighth day of the second lunar month, Axule village holds the “Dumb Festival” to expel evil spirits and pray for peace and prosperity in the new year. However, the Dumb God did not prevent all disasters, and over 200 years ago, a devastating plague struck Axule village, leading to widespread death and the forced relocation of the survivors. After the disappearance of Axule village, the neighboring Gaiwas village started to see the birth of dumb children. Upon consulting the priest, they realized that the Dumb God had moved to Gaiwas village. The villagers then continued the tradition of the Dumb Festival, which has been passed down to this day.

Dumb God Dance Performance

The legend has been passed down for hundreds of years, and the devoted villagers of Gaiwas hope that through the “Dumb God Dance,” they can dispel evil spirits and wish for harmony and safety in their village. According to Shizhaoxing, a respected elder and inheritor of the state-level intangible cultural heritage in the village, “From our ancestors to my son’s generation, for over a hundred years, our village has seen good harvests, thriving livestock, and has grown stronger, leading to increasingly prosperous lives.”

Currently, Gaiwas village has developed from the 40 households of Shizhaoxing’s father’s generation to 102 households. The houses have transformed from thatched cottages to brick-and-mortar flat-roofed buildings. Yang Yingzhong, the leader of one of the village’s groups, noted that over 90% of the 18 households in the group have small Western-style houses, while those who haven’t built new homes often conduct business in the county, state capital, or even provincial capital, having purchased housing in the cities.

As the lives of Gaiwas villagers continue to flourish, they deeply cherish and revere the “Dumb Festival.” Therefore, on the eighth day of the second lunar month, every household in the village is bustling with visitors and excitement.

According to festival customs, in the days leading up to the festival, married children and relatives from afar are invited back home by the host to enjoy a lavish meal. During the meal, they engage in warm conversations and share family news. For visitors who wander the paths of Gaiwas village, they will find that every household opens its doors, and the hospitable villagers, speaking with a mix of Yi and Han dialects, warmly invite guests to sit down and share a meal. Through the open doors, one can see the busy scenes of villagers killing chickens and cooking meat.

Preparation for the Festival

As every household prepares to welcome guests, who manages the activities of the Dumb Festival? In the past, each year’s Dumb Festival was organized by a single household on a rotating basis. However, in modern times, it has evolved into a collective organization involving six households each year. On the afternoon of the seventh day of the second lunar month, around 1 PM, they gather for divination to determine the “Dumb” candidates for that evening’s festivities and to worship the deity governing the land and grains, known as Miku. Shizhaoxing explained that the selection of the “Dumb” participants is critical; they must be healthy and able to dance, and they cannot have lost a family member or have a pregnant person in their home that year.

Once everything is prepared, around 2 PM, with guests from neighboring villages and outside the county gradually arriving, the Dumb Festival officially begins. Not far from the village entrance, villagers have already prepared a barrier of thorny grass, playfully “intercepting” the guests outside. Men and women dressed in festive attire, representing both hosts and guests, sing in clear and high-pitched voices, creating a scene reminiscent of “passing five barriers and slaying six generals.” This is the essential first step of the Dumb Festival—”blocking the main road.” It can be understood that the singing contest serves as a “ticket” to the festival; entering the village for the Dumb Festival is not just a casual affair; one must sing along successfully to gain entry, while those who fail must turn back. This custom adds a sense of mystery to the festival for first-time visitors.

As the road blocking concludes, accompanied by the piercing sounds of drums and flutes, the dragon dance team performs, enthusiastically welcoming guests into the village.

Upon entering the village, the festive atmosphere intensifies. The elder of the Dumb Festival holds a rooster and performs a solemn worship ceremony at the statue of the mountain god at the village entrance, praying for good weather and prosperous livestock for the entire village. At this moment, villagers and guests kneel to offer their blessings. Subsequently, the elder sacrifices the rooster under a robust banyan tree, completing the worship.

Festival Celebration

By 4 PM, guests are invited to villagers’ homes to savor unique dishes prepared by Yi families, such as cured meat, dried radish strips, and dried vegetables.

After dinner, villagers invite each other to gather at the square in front of the Dumb Temple. Within an hour, the square fills with people, surrounding a bonfire as they begin the famous “Gaiwas February 8 Singing Festival.” It is said that those participating in the singing festival can sing continuously from their entry until dawn, laugh without pause until the rooster crows three times, sweat profusely from excitement, and experience the joy of the festival from the moment they start dancing until the “sweeping feet” conclude with the song flying away like mist. Indeed, this vibrant scene intensifies as night falls, creating an air of mystery surrounding Gaiwas before the arrival of the Dumb God.

Since last year, the number of “Dumb Gods” participating in the festival has increased to nine. Before their appearance, the whereabouts of the Dumb Gods, their makeup sessions, and their emergence are all kept strictly confidential, making the “Dumb Festival” shrouded in mystery.

After 9 PM, the “Dumb Gods,” bare-chested, adorned with red auspicious patterns of qilin or tigers on their chests, dressed in hemp lines, holding white wooden forks, sticks, or wooden knives, and wearing grass sandals, rush into the singing festival at the elder’s shout of “The Dumb God is here!” In the absence of musical accompaniment, the Dumb Gods perform a rough and exaggerated “Dumb God Dance.” At this point, the square becomes filled with excited screams, and participants quickly scatter. Only when they see the “Dumb Gods” perform friendly inviting gestures do they swiftly gather to dance and celebrate with them.

It is said that during the entire performance, the “Dumb Gods” have no fixed movements or routines and do not make any sounds. The elder jumps over the bonfire, and the Dumb Gods constantly scan the audience for potential dance partners. If they spot a woman they like, they quickly leap to her side, dragging her into the dance circle or pulling her hands energetically, ringing bells to attract her attention. The women, seemingly innocent “birds,” can only join in the dance, unable to break free. While the seemingly wild actions may confuse some, Shizhaoxing explains, “In the dance circle, if the Dumb God chooses someone, there’s no need for anyone to be upset. It’s a pure expression of the Dumb God’s affection, respect, and hospitality towards distant guests, with no malice intended, but rather a means to help dispel evil spirits.”

The “Dumb Gods” remain active in the singing festival and the area in front of the Dumb Temple for over 20 minutes before retreating at the elder’s signal, visiting each household to help drive away misfortune and pray for peace and blessings for the families.

As the Dumb Gods depart, the crowd in the square disperses, while those who wish to continue enjoying the festivities gather around the fire to sing. The annual celebration of the Dumb Festival comes to a close, with hopes for peace and blessings to envelop the entire Gaiwas village.

Gaiwas Dumb Dance

Introduction
According to legend, a long time ago, there was a village named Axule beneath Gaiwas village, where villagers often gave birth to dumb children. They invited a priest to examine the feng shui, who concluded that the “Dumb God” was causing this issue. To drive the spirit away, the villagers held a festival on the eighth day of the second lunar month, performing the Dumb Dance to expel the deity and pray for peace and safety in the new year, serving as a form of spiritual support and psychological comfort. Choosing the first festival of spring for the ceremony demonstrates the villagers’ sincerity in honoring the gods while wishing for peace and safety in the coming year. Eventually, due to rampant plagues, the villagers of Axule were forced to leave, and the Dumb God settled in Gaiwas, where the villagers continued the tradition of the Dumb Dance, which has persisted to this day. As society has developed, people’s understanding of the “Dumb God” has become more humane, and they now seek to please the deity through lighthearted and humorous means. The Dumb Festival has transformed into an annual folk activity that entertains both the gods and the people. On this day, villagers gather to celebrate, inviting friends and relatives to join in the festivities.

Inheritors and Performers
In the present day, the Gaiwas Dumb Dance has evolved from its original cultural function to now hold significant artistic value and popularity. The festival has even gained recognition from tourists across the country, serving as a symbol of local cultural heritage and attracting visitors. Many people express their desire to participate in the Dumb Dance. Over the years, local cultural organizations have nurtured a group of performers who uphold the art form, representing the village’s deep-rooted cultural heritage.