Tujia nationality is a group mainly engaged in agricultural production, and farming culture plays an important role in its production and life. Tujia's agricultural production and agricultural folk customs have a long history and distinctive national characteristics. If we carefully investigate and study, we can better understand the survival and development of this nation from ancient times to the present. This is of great practical significance for us to better build a harmonious society and build a new socialist countryside.
Tujia people in Guizhou have long been engaged in agriculture. According to the Records of Huayang Country, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were "home-grown grains to sacrifice six animals" in the territory of Bazi country. Mulberry, silkworm, hemp, glutinous rice, fish, salt, copper, iron, Dan, lacquer, tea, honey, turtle, giant rhinoceros, pheasant, yellow embellish and fresh flour all paid tribute. "Tujia people live in the' Antarctic' of the ancient bazi country. Because of the Wujiang River here, although the mountains are high and the valleys are deep, the land is fertile and the climate is warm, which is very suitable for "growing grains".
It is precisely because of geographical conditions, as the "County Records along the River" of the Republic of China said: "The mountains and rivers are deep and the weather is different ... It violates the farming season, and it is recommended when you are hungry." The development of agricultural production in Tujia areas is relatively slow. Before the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was almost in a state of slash and burn. For example, the Annals of Sinan Prefecture says, "Those who live in the forest will light a fire, which is called slash and burn because of planting." Men and women cooperate, logging and burning her, sowing miscellaneous grains, not fertilizing or watering, and moving to other places after the land is barren.
After the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the "Tusi" came to power, and the Tujia area began to enter the feudal lords' economy, and a number of powerful and powerful surnames appeared, resulting in larger settlement villages. They strengthened their political and economic ties with the Central Plains, introduced water conservancy in the developed areas of the Central Plains, used irrigation facilities for agricultural irrigation, built simple cars with hydraulic power, and pumped water along streams and rivers for irrigation.
With the rapid development of agricultural economy, the backward mode of slash-and-burn production has been gradually changed, and corn, sorghum, millet and beans have been gradually planted by using the natural conditions of cultivated land. And the production of sericulture, ramie and honey has also made new progress. In handicraft industry, we use the natural resources in mountainous areas to make all kinds of iron, wood and bamboo farm tools and daily necessities.
Women also learned textile techniques, such as silk, cotton and hemp, to produce homespun. And a simple smelting process appeared, especially thanks to the convenience of Wujiang shipping, salt, iron cloth and department stores were brought in. Wood, bamboo, tung oil, Chinese herbal medicines, hides, yellow wax and raw lacquer in Tujia areas have also entered the Yangtze River, further promoting the development of production, and the bazaars along the Yangtze River have also formed and gradually increased.