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The Bouyei Nationality |
The Bouyeis, numbering 2540, 000, live mostly in the Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Region in the south and southwest of Guizhou province, with a small proportion scattered over Yunnan , Sichuan and Guangxi provinces. The Bouyei language belongs to the Zhuang-Dong family of the Sino-Tibetan linguistic system. Since the nationality does not have its own written language, a new system based on the Latin alphabet was introduced in the 1950s. The Bouyeis are mainly involved in agriculture, especially rice-growing. Among the achievements of a rich cultural heritage, their stone buildings, batik work and Bouyei drama are outstanding.
The Bouyei people are blessed with a beautiful homeland of dark-green mountains and crisscrossing rivers and streams in the southwest of Guixhou province. Several famous beauty spots are situated in the region--the awe inspiring Huangguoshu(Yellow Fruit Tree) Waterfall in Zhenning, the Huaxi Stream(Flower Stream) in Guiyang, as well as the labyrinthine limestone cave at Anshun called Longgong(Dragon's Liar).
Early in the Stone Age, the Bouyeis' ancestors, who belonged to the Liao, Bai and Baipu clans of the ancient Yelang Kingdom, settled on the Yungui Plateau. The farm tools( bronze plough, hoe and spade, for example) excavated in Bouyei-inhabited areas show that the Bouyeis made a living out of rice-growing in at least 200 A. D.
Most Bouyei villages are found on mountain-sides and near rivers. The Bouyeis live mostly in houses built on stilts because of the hot, humid climate in south and southwest Guizhou. However, people living on the upper reaches of the river above the Huangguoshu Waterfall use locally-produced stone blocks to build clusters of unique-styled houses, popularly known as "stone villages." The solid wind-and-rain-proof houses have walls entirely built of stone blocks and roof covered with stone chips. They can be as high as five to six meters and are cool in summer and warm in winter. They do not cost too much, either. As well as the houses, various pieces of furniture are also made of stone, such as tables, stools, stoves and containers.
The traditional Bouyei costumes are predominantly blue and black with restrained, elegant designs. Men wear short or long front-buttoned jackets, and turbans of blue and white checkered patterns, while women prefer jackets with slanting openings on the right side, long pleated batik skirts and silver ornaments at festival time.
The wax dyeing batik technique is an outstanding example of Bouyei's folk arts and crafts,and can be traced back to the 10th century A.D. when, according to official records, batiks were first produced in Huishui, Guangzhou. Bouyei girls begin to learn wax-dyeing skills from their mothers at the age of twelve or thirteen. This is the process they learn:
First, the solid wax is heated till it melts. Then using a trangular bladed bronze knife, patterns and floral designs are drawn with the liquid wax on a piece of white cloth. The cloth is then dyed blue with indigo in a dye vat, and next, boiled until the yellow wax comes off and the designs appear in white on the blue ground. The cloth is finally taken out of the water,bleached and dried. By the end of this process, a unique batik has been created.
Styles of Bouyei batik vary in different areas. Some designs are simple yet vivid and striking. Some are known for their boldness, while others are famed for their fine detail and flowing line. Many batik patterns feature flowers, birds and insects. But the ornamental patterns of wavy lines are the Bouyeis' favorite.
Generations of hard working, creative Bouyei women have preserved and developed the art of batik. The results embody their dreams aspirations. Today, batik products are admired by women from many parts of the world. In addition, the rich, brightly-colored Bouyei emboidery and Bouyei bracade are equally famous for their fine, delicate designs.
During slack times of the year, local drama trupes frequently tour the villages. Bouyei drama, Ground Drama and Flower-Latern Drama are particularly popular.
Ground drama, a variation of the ancient Mask Play, gets its name from the way it is performed; it needs no stage or scenery. The actors and actresses simply wear theatrical costumes and striking masks carved out of poplar-wood. They act on the ground in the open air, accompanied by the beating of a resonant bronze drum that attracts a large crowd to watch these popular plays.
Suona, a popular Bouyei folk instrument, plays a dominant role in a band that is made up of eight instruments altogether--besides a small sized Suona and a medium-sized one, there are two trombones, two drums and two cymbals. The musicians are dressed fittingly as" Masters of the Tune of the Eight Celestial Beings," presumably referring to the eight instruments they use. The music, or otherwise called Baxian Music, is usually played when blessings are given,or to celebrate joyful occasions like weddings and welcoming ceremonies, as well as some traditionl festivals. Baxian tunes have a simple, energetic rhythm. Many are associaled with a particular activity or serve a particular purpose, and most have words to them chanted both in the Bouyei language and in Chinese to make the meaning clear.
Most of the Bouyeis' festivals are similar to those of the Han nationality. Nevertheless,there are a couple of ones which belong only to the Bouyei nationality and have special meaning for them. One of these is the "April the Eighth Festival," also known as" the Ox King's Day." It is usually celebrated after spring ploughing. On the day, polished sticky rice or colored rice is steamed, and then offered to the ancestors and to the oxen, which are allowed to rest during the festival.
The offerings are intended to honor the oxen for the hard work they have contributed on the farm.
Liu Bowen, a high offical in the Ming Dynasty, once visited Guizhou and wrote verses about its bright future. It seems his prediction is now about to become reality. The Beuyeis see their hope of development in the region's rich resources. They feel strongly the beat of the modern age, as they work energetically and optimistically for a prosperous future. |
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