Yiche Ethnic People

The Yiche people are a branch of the Hani ethnic minority, considered the oldest subgroup of the Hani nationality. With a population of less than 30,000, they are mainly distributed across three townships in Honghe County, Yunnan: Dayangjie (大羊街), Langdi (浪堤), and Chegu (车古). The Yiche people have developed a primitive, mysterious, and brilliant culture shaped by their long coexistence with nature. Their traditions encompass a wide range of aspects including farming, religion, rituals, calendar customs, folk traditions, costumes, marriage customs, and dietary practices, reflecting deep sociological, folkloric, and ethical significance.

Distribution of Yiche Ethnic People in Yunnan

The Yiche ethnic group is primarily found in several areas of Honghe County, particularly in the villages of Dayangjie (known locally as Yiche Township), Langdi, and Chegu Townships. Most Yiche villages are situated on the southern side of the Yuanjiang River, typically at the middle heights of the mountains. The picturesque landscapes, with terraced fields carefully cultivated, make their living environment one of the most beautiful in China.

Key Yiche Villages in Yunnan:

• Dayangjie Village in Dayangjie Town

• Datuoshe Village in Dayangjie Town

• Xiaotuoshe Village in Dayangjie Town

• Malong Village in Langdi Town

• Chegu Village in Chegu Town

Festivals of Yiche Ethnic People in Yunnan

YangAna Festival

The YangAna Festival, also known as the Girls Street Festival, is a significant celebration for Yiche girls. The name "YangAna" in Hani language refers to a time when people sing and play during their leisure. The festival is held on the first monkey day following the Huangfan Festival (黄饭节), typically at the pass of Mengzhehongdu Mountain, which is considered a holy site by the Yiche people. During the YangAna Festival, participants, especially the Yiche women, ascend the mountain to celebrate, leaving behind the hardships of daily labor.

Kuzhazha Festival

Celebrated at the beginning of the rainy season, the Kuzhazha Festival is one of the most important festivals for the Hani people, with the Yiche community celebrating it with intense fervor. During this festival, the Yiche people wear elaborate costumes and engage in wild dances that simulate sexual acts as a symbolic request for blessings such as an increase in population, crops, and livestock.

Zhatele Festival

The Zhatele Festival, also known as the "October Year", is a grand celebration lasting six days from the first Dragon Exhibition Day to the Monkey Day of the lunar October. This festival marks a time for the Yiche people to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one. The festival is filled with joy as everyone, young and old, wears new clothes. Villagers celebrate by slaughtering pigs and chickens. The "October Year" has two primary forms of celebration: the Stone Carnival and the Abado Banquet. These events emphasize family reunion and community bonding while symbolizing the Yiche people's hope for prosperity in the coming year.