Why is Jingpo Road a symbol of Jingpo national spirit?

Jingpo nationality is a nomadic people who originated from the border, and has migrated many times in history. In the migration and long-term struggle with nature, the national characteristics of being brave and good at fighting have been formed. Its production mode has experienced nomadic-hunting-gathering-slash-and-burn, and knife is a very important production tool in various production modes. In the folk, there have been two proverbs since ancient times: "The road of Jingbo Mountain was cut with long knives and bare feet." "Men can't play with long knives and can't travel far; Women can't knit skirts or get married. " In the creation epic Le Bao Zhai Wa of Jingpo people, there is such a poem, "Break the waves and nod with a clear head." [4] During slash-and-burn period, they used this knife to reclaim land, plant crops, cut down trees and bamboo to build houses and make household appliances. Living in the mountains for a long time, they fought with wild animals and used this knife to defend themselves and clear the way. This knife was also used in the struggle against imperialist invaders in modern times.

We can also find records about the use of knives by Jingpo people from some historical documents. For example, Guangxu's "Yongchang Fuzhi" "Savages have no houses, and many huts are easy to move. Red and yellow eyes, covered with bark and hair, cover its navel. Wear a bone ring, insert wild pheasant hair, wrap red vines, hold a hook knife and a big blade, hunt animals, eat snakes and mice. " "Zhenkang County Records" contains: "Twenty households in Jiuyuan, Nanqu, Bangkong and Xilanzi Mountain are tough and aggressive. Men often wear semi-scabbard knives, spring bags of flowers, long hair on their heads, bun, pierced ears, and tobacco and reeds. " Knife culture in religious sacrifice of Jingpo nationality. Munao Zongge is the most solemn religious ceremony for Jingpo people to worship the heavenly ghosts. Two crossed broadswords, one male and one female, were placed between the male and wooden pillars symbolizing the cave of Munao Zongge. The knife is enshrined on the highest altar, and is regarded as a god in the sky like the sun, the moon and the stars, and is respected together. Two broadswords, a man and a woman, are regarded as sacred objects to create heaven and earth, and are also treasures for Jingpo people to defend their homeland and conquer nature. In addition, knives can also be seen in other sacrificial activities. For example, when offering sacrifices to "Nengshang" and "Guan Temple", young men dug holes with knives to order seeds.

The power position of Jingpo nationality, the knife culture in weddings and funerals. In ancient times, rich people had to have a beautiful long silver knife to show their status. At this time, the knife is a symbol of one's identity and status. The Jingpo boy married his daughter-in-law and gave her a bride price. No matter whether her family is rich or poor, a knife is essential to show that the boy is ready to start a family and stand on his own feet. When a girl has a knife, it means that she can farm with it and live a happy life in the future. When a person dies and is buried, he should be buried with a knife to show that he can open up a whole new world with a knife in another world. In the daily communication of Jingpo people, knives are often regarded as a noble gift to show people's mutual respect.