Overview of Folk Customs in Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna, this charming land, has rich and diverse folk cultures and enchanting natural landscapes
(1) Ethnic Diversity
Xishuangbanna is home to numerous ethnic groups, and their cultures complement each other. The Dai ethnic group, as the main ethnic group, has a long history and splendid culture. They believe in Hinayana and regard peacocks and elephants as mascots. Dai girls dress beautifully and are good at singing and dancing. The Hani ethnic group originated from the ancient Qiang people in China and has its own language. The main festival is the "Gatangpa" festival, which means "renewal of all things". The Lahu ethnic group originated from the ancient Qiang people, and their language belongs to the Yi branch of the Sino Tibetan language family, the Tibeto Burman language family. Their main festivals include the Pagoda Festival and the Torch Festival. The Yi people originated from the ancient northern "Di Qiang" ethnic group, and their main festivals include the Yi Festival and the Torch Festival. The Blang ethnic group originated from the ancient Pu people and belongs to the Blang branch of the Mon Khmer language family in the South Asian language family. Its main festivals include the "Sangkang" festival and the "Magle" festival. The Jino ethnic group was recognized as a single ethnic minority in 1979, and their main festivals include the "Temaoke" festival and the "Xinmi" festival
(II) The Beauty of Natural Landscapes
The tropical scenery of Xishuangbanna is breathtaking. The plants here are dense and prosperous, accounting for 1/6 of the total plants in the country, with over 3 million acres of nature reserves and over 700000 acres of primitive forests. The tropical rainforest is known as the "most representative tropical ecosystem in China", where tropical plants such as the Wangtian tree, pepper tree, and rubber tree intertwine and grow, forming a rich vegetation layer. The clear water source is also a major feature of Xishuangbanna, and the Dai people are very concerned about the cleanliness of the water source. The mountains and waters here are interdependent, with peaceful rivers and lush green mountains forming beautiful paintings. On this magical land, humans and nature coexist harmoniously, showcasing unique natural charm and cultural charm
II. Characteristics of Dai Culture
(1) Traditional Customs and Festivals
The Dai people's Water Splashing Festival is one of their grandest festivals. The Water Splashing Festival, also known as the "Bathing Buddha Festival" in Dai language, is called "Sang Bi Bi Mai". It is usually held in mid April every year and lasts for 3 to 7 days. During the festival, people will hold activities such as picking flowers, offering Buddha, bathing Buddha, splashing water for blessings, dancing and entertainment. Splashing water symbolizes washing away the misfortunes and sins of the past year and welcoming the new year. People use various vessels to hold water, pouring it out of the streets and alleys, playing and chasing, splashing it whenever they meet people, creating a lively atmosphere. In addition, there will be entertainment activities such as catching up with the pendulum, losing bags, racing Loong Boat, raising high, and dancing peacock dance Dai ethnic clothing is bright and colorful. Dai women in Xishuangbanna wear various tight fitting underwear, with tight fitting collarless narrow sleeved short shirts on the outer cover, and colorful tube skirts underneath, reaching up to the feet and tied with exquisite silver waistbands. Dai women all love to have long hair tied around their heads, some adorned with combs or flowers, some with headscarves, and some wearing tall cylindrical hats, each showcasing their beauty and elegance Dai men and women have freedom in love. There are many ways for young men and women to date, such as the popular "Chuanbu Shao" activity, where young men and women sing, dance, and express their love during festivals such as the Water Splashing Festival, dragon boat races, and dance. There is also a form of 'selling chicken', where girls choose their favorite young man by selling chicken. The young man also has a peculiar way of courtship, wrapping himself in a wide blanket, only revealing his two eyes, and standing by the roadside waiting for the girl The temple architecture style in Xishuangbanna is unique, complementing the Dai bamboo buildings and ancient bamboo trees, creating a sacred and peaceful scene The temples of the Dai ethnic group are mainly composed of temple gates, Buddhist halls, scripture halls, monk's quarters, and drum houses. On both sides of the temple gate, there are often two golden dragons, and the entire building is decorated in red, yellow, and white colors, with dragon and phoenix patterns being the most common. There is a large area outside the temple, surrounded by large trees, low walls, and bamboo forests, with the green setting off the magnificent golden walls of the temple. The Buddhist pagodas in Dai temples are sometimes built together with * * or separately, mostly consisting of a main tower and several small towers forming a tower group, forming a contrast of size and reality, with unique characteristics Banna people's faith in * * is deeply integrated into their lives, while not being confined to details and living in harmony with nature The Dai people have been closely related to * * since childhood, from birth to death. As soon as a child is born, parents will ask senior monks and elders to name the baby, most of which are related to Buddhism. On their birthday, Dai people will go to the temple to offer sacrifices to the monastic community, recite scriptures and pay respects to Buddha, receive ordination and pray for blessings, and ask the monks to tie strings and bless them. Before going on a long journey or working or studying in another city, Dai people will go to * * to ask senior monks and elders to tie strings and bless them. In their later years, they will choose to go to a temple for a more rigorous period of spiritual practice. Dai people usually have Buddhist niches or altars in their homes to enshrine Buddha statues. They recite sutras and pay respects to Buddha every morning and evening, and also spend a moment meditating before or after going to bed In Xishuangbanna, elephants are regarded as sacred symbols, and the Dai people have a special affection for them. On specific days, people hold grand elephant events. People dressed in formal attire, carrying flowers, fruits, candles, and other offerings, come to the places where elephants reside or specialized places. They express their respect and blessings to the elephant with a devout attitude, praying for the elephant to bless them with a safe and happy life The charm of song and dance performances in Xishuangbanna is infinite. Peacock dance is one of the most famous dances in the local area. Dancers imitate the posture of peacocks and dance gracefully, showcasing the Dai people's longing for a better life through their graceful movements. Elephant foot drum dance is full of a sense of power, with powerful drumming and varied dance movements, making people feel the enthusiasm and heroic spirit of the people of Xishuangbanna The Blang ethnic group has unique traditional cultural customs. The clothing of the Blang ethnic group is unique, with bright colors and exquisite patterns. Blang women are skilled in weaving, and they use the fabrics they weave themselves to make various beautiful clothes. On some important festivals and occasions, the Brown people wear traditional costumes to showcase their ethnic culture The festivals of the Blang ethnic group are also rich and colorful. Nian Festival is the most solemn festival of the Bulang ethnic group. On this day, every household will eat brown sugar glutinous rice cake and hold various * * activities. The Closing Door Festival is also one of the important festivals of the Blang tribe. Family members will send flowers and wax sticks to the head of the family, hold hand washing and foot washing ceremonies, and pray for the safety of people and animals in the coming year Xishuangbanna not only attracts tourists with its beautiful natural scenery and unique folk culture, but also has a simple and touching folk customs The bedroom of the Dai ethnic group is an extremely private space that cannot be accessed by outsiders. This taboo stems from the special understanding of the bedroom by the Dai people. There is a pillar called the "family god pillar" in the bedroom. The Dai people believe in the Southern tradition and believe that everything has a spirit. This "family god pillar" is regarded as the place where the guardian deity of the house resides. If seen by outsiders, it will be considered unlucky. Tourists, whether visiting or visiting Dai homes, should never peek into the master's bedroom out of curiosity, otherwise they will not be welcomed There are three pillars in the living room upstairs in the Dai family, and the pillar next to the fire pit is absolutely not allowed to lean against it. This pillar is regarded by the Dai people as the "Heavenly Pillar" and holds special significance. If you lean against this pillar, it means disrespect towards the owner. This taboo reflects the respect and adherence of the Dai people to traditional customs. Two pillars separated from the bedroom side by side, one of which is a "lucky pillar" that can be leaned against; The other one is the "Ascending Pillar", avoid leaning on or hanging things When entering a Dai bamboo tower, one must take off their shoes outside the door, which is a sign of respect for the Dai people's living habits. Walk lightly on the bamboo tower to avoid making loud noises and disturbing the owner's life. You cannot sit on top of a fire pit, as it holds an important position in the Dai ethnic group as a place for cooking and heating. Sitting on top is considered inappropriate behavior. We cannot cross the fire pit, which is also a sign of respect for the fire pit. At the same time, one should not speak ill of others in public and maintain good words and deeds(II) Clothing and Residential Buildings
(III) Marriage and love customs
III. * * Cultural Influence
(1) Temple Architecture Style
(II) Integration of Faith and Life
IV. Featured Folk Activities
(1) * * Elephants
(II) Song and Dance Performances and Water Splashing Festival
(III) The culture of the Blang ethnic group
Fifth, the simple and honest folk customs are reflected.
VI. Customs and Taboos
(1) Bedroom Taboos
(II) Taboos in the Living Room
(III) Taboos on Going to Bamboo Towers