The Huijie Festival is a grand religious festival of the Achang people in the Dehong area. It starts on the tenth day of the ninth lunar month every year and lasts for five days, with one street being held every day. The Huijie Festival used to be mainly about praying for God's blessings, but now it includes mass entertainment, material exchange and other contents. The Achang Street Festival is a traditional festival in Husa and Lhasa areas. In the past, it was mostly held in the middle of September of the lunar calendar and usually lasted for about five days. Now it has been held in the three days before and after the National Day.
1 Festival introduction editor
The "Huijie Festival" is a traditional festival of the Achang people. It mainly involves people exchanging materials and young men and women socializing
And opportunities to express feelings. Playing with green dragons and white elephants is the most solemn and exciting entertainment activity during the Huijie Festival. White elephants and blue dragons made by folk artists. Generally made of bamboo and wood and framed with colored paper, they are vivid and express the hardworking wisdom and longing for a happy life of the Achang people.
2 Festival source editor
Hui Street, called "Aolu" in Achang dialect, is held every year in the eighth and ninth month of the lunar calendar to welcome the return of the Buddha.
The days between street festivals
. Legend has it that when the Buddha "Gedama" (Sakyamuni Huijiejie nun) went to heaven to chant sutras for his mother for three days (equivalent to three months on earth) and returned to the world, the Buddha's light shone, and the blue dragon and white elephant appeared auspicious. The Green Dragon and White Elephant must be played on Achanghui Street, which originated from this.
The Achang Street Festival is a traditional festival in Husa and Lhasa areas. In the past, it was mostly held in the middle of September of the lunar calendar and usually lasted for about five days. Now it has been held in the three days before and after the National Day.
The "Huijie Festival" is a traditional festival of the Achang people. It is mainly an opportunity for people to exchange materials and for young men and women to socialize and express their feelings. At the Huijie Festival, the first thing that catches people's eyes is the white elephant and green dragon made by Achang folk artists. Generally made of bamboo and wood and framed with colored paper, they are vivid and express the hardworking wisdom and longing for a happy life of the Achang people.
3 Main Event Editor
The Achang people regard the blue dragon and the white elephant as symbols of good luck and happiness. Before meeting on the street, the green dragon and white elephant should be tied up. On the day of Hui Street, when the sky first appears, the young men carry long knives on their backs and elephant drums on their shoulders, and the girls wear beautiful In national costumes, green dragons and white elephants in red and green colors entered the Huijie Festival Square amid the sound of drums and firecrackers. When the elder who presides over the festival announces the start of the festival, the sound of drums, gongs, and hairs mingles immediately. The green dragon and the white elephant are also active. The green dragon sometimes shakes its head, sometimes swings its tail, and sometimes opens its mouth to laugh; sometimes the white elephant shakes its long nose, sometimes moves forward, sometimes retreats, then slides, kneels, leans back, and leans forward clumsily. His naivety made people burst into laughter. At this time, girls and boys danced around the green dragon and white elephant. They jumped and moved with their feet, their bodies undulating like waves, jumping and squatting at the same time. At this time, the venue was filled with drums and music, dragons dancing, elephants leaping, and joy.
The Achang people worship white elephants. "Playing with the White Elephant" is a traditional folk dance of the Achang people. This kind of dance has many changes in movements, is simple and natural, and the plot is interesting and fascinating. It vividly reproduces the real life of Achang people and gives people the enjoyment of the beauty of life.
At the Huijie Festival, the most attractive thing is the elephant foot dance performed by Achang men dancing around the white elephant. They beat and dance at the same time. The drum beats are slow and urgent, the rhythm is bright, the sound is rough and loud, and they are also accompanied by various movements of shaking, shaking and swinging the drum from time to time. They are vigorous, free and easy, and the image is beautiful. Groups of Achang girls who were watching were dressed in festive costumes with bright red flowers in their hair. They were gracefully dressed and burst into bursts of laughter from time to time. Amid the laughter, the white elephant's trunk swung even more joyfully, the green dragon opened its mouth and nodded frequently, and raised its tail higher...
Introduction to 4 Ethnic Groups
The Achang people are one of the earliest ethnic groups living in Yunnan, China. "Echang", "Echang", "Echang" or "Achang", "Echang", etc. in ancient Chinese historical records are all names given to the Achang people in different periods. After the founding of New China, according to the wishes of this ethnic group, they were collectively called the Achang ethnic group. They live in the hills, valleys and flat dams of the remaining mountains of Gaoligong Mountain. The fertile land, mild climate and abundant rainfall here provide good conditions for the development of agricultural production of the Achang people. The Achang people have been famous for their rice cultivation since ancient times. The Achang people are mainly engaged in agriculture. The handicraft industry is also very developed, and it is especially famous for being good at making long knives.
Huijie Festival
The early Qing Dynasty inherited the chieftain system of the Ming Dynasty. Wu Sangui changed the Hulachu area to "Xunzhuang". In the 31st year of Kangxi (1692), "Xunzhuang" was abolished and was still inherited by the original Lai and Kuang families. In the second year of Yongzheng (1724), the Hulasa area came under the jurisdiction of Tengyue Prefecture. During the Qianlong period, in addition to paying tribute and taxes to the Dai feudal lords, more than 80% of the Achang people in the Nandian Tusi area became tenants of nearby Han and Dai landlords. At the same time, they were exploited by feudal lords and landlords. During the Republic of China, Yunnan warlords established political bureaucracies in Longchuan, Lianghe and other places and implemented the Baojia system. However, the feudal chieftain system was extended to the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China and ruled the Achang people for more than 500 years. In addition to paying the "three major payments" (official rent, cigarette money, and foundation money) to the chieftain every year, the Achang people also bear special labor in each village.
The Achang people have rich oral literature such as songs, stories, and legends.
There are many beautiful legends circulated among the people, such as the long narrative epic "Zhapama and Zhemima"; the long narrative poems "Cao Zha" and "The Blacksmith Fights the Dragon King"; the custom stories "Gu Ji", "Cousins", " "Hip Bone"; animal stories "Muntuntie and Leopard Swapping Jobs", "Old Bear Tearing His Face", etc. These poems and legends are very simple, vivid and touching.
5 Festival Dance
During the Huijie Festival, when the white elephant swings its long trunk and the green dragon raises its head and wags its tail, the Achang youth beat the elephant foot drum and surround the green dragon and white elephant. A cheerful elephant foot dance was performed. Amidst the sound of drums, girls wearing flowers on their heads and holding green leaves or flowers and handkerchiefs danced the Green Dragon and White Elephant Dance to the beat of the elephant foot drum. When reaching the climax, he couldn't help shouting "Yue Huai Huai, Yi Hei", which means happiness, happiness and eternal happiness. The dance is simple and natural, with low kicks, small hand swings, slow rhythm, warm atmosphere, and a strong local flavor.