|
| |
|
|
The Miao Nationality |
The Miao nationality has a population of 7.39 million, mainly living in Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hainan and Hubei provinces. They are mainly engaged in agriculture. They have their own language which was augmented with the creation of a new written form in 1956.
The Miao people have a highly-developed folk literature, and folk songs are very popular among them. The Lusheng, made of bamboo pipe, is their favorite musical instrument. The Miao women excel in various arts and crafts, including embroidery, weaving, batik and paper-cutting.
Inhabiting the mountainous areas of central south and southwest China, are the Miao people,a nationality very fond of Lusheng. This sophisticated folk instrument is a wind instrument with a reed.
Due to the differences in dress, geography and customs, the Miao people used to be known as "Red Miao," "White Miao," "Black Miao ," "Blue Miao ," "Long-skirt Miao' and"Short-skirt Miao ."However, they have been classified as one entity, the Miao, after the liberation in 1949.
Though the architectural style varies from place to place, the houses of the Miaos can roughly be generalized into two types. The most popular is a two-storey timber house sitting on stilts built in some areas of Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Guangxi. The top floor is occupied by the family and the ground floor is used as sheds for cattle and storage. Clusters of these houses are usually found at the foot of a hill and beside a stream. The Miao people living in the east of Yungui Plateau, however used to live in shacks but now live in the houses made of wood and clay or of wood and stone.
Agricultural products and diet habits also vary according to geographical difference. Generally, the main source of the Miao's food is grains. People in southeast Guizhou like to eat glutinous rice, which is dyed in five colours in festivals. The Miaos are fond of various sour foods,such as, sour pickles, sour fish and meat. They also have a tradition of enjoying themselves by drinking wine, especially when entertaining guests. The Miao people welcome their guests on the road outside their village by offering them an ox-horn of wine. The guests are supposed to empty it before entering the village.
The costumes of the Miao people vary enormously from place to place. In spite of this great variety, men generally wear short side-buttoned jackets and trousers. Women often wear short or long skirts, and skirts for special occasions are elegantly and elaborately made. The head ornaments and decorations the Miao women wear are often made of silver, which symbolizes nobility and beauty. They vary enormously in all sorts of different shapes, materials and styles.Some Miao women cover their heads with a kerchief, some women in Guizhou comb their hair into a bun fastened with a piece of bamboo, and the others in Guizhou, Guangxi and Yunnan place the bun over their right ear.
Among the various Miao dances, the Lusheng Dance is the most popular, especially in different areas of Guizhou and Hunan provinces, Lusheng Dances are usually held during some of the traditional festivals and on happy occasions such as New Year, weddings, harvest and the construction of a new house. Lusheng Dances focus on footwork, usually a four-steps-sequenee, as well as one, two, three step-sequences.
Folk Lusheng Dances involve many people dancing in a circle led by two to five male Lusheng players. The dancers link hands and dance to the accompaniment of the Lusheng. A bonfire is lit to cheer the spirits during the night.
Competitive Lusheng dance is held during festivals and public gatherings where the best dancers give the performances and compete for the championship.
Young men and women also take the opportunity of Lusbeng dance gatherings to court each other. During the dance, if a girl fastens an embroidered flower to the Lusheng of her sweetheart, she is officially engaged to the young man.
The horsefighting Festival on the 26th of December every year is a popular three-day gathering. The first day starts with catching fishes, killing chickens and ducks and preparing for a big banquet which is held later on the same day to entertain friends and relatives from other arcas. The second day is for horsefighting, and the third for horseracing. Gunfire mixed with Lusheng music marks the beginning of horsefighting and horseracing activities. In recent years, the festival also opens the door for business and trade of local products from the area including mushrooms, animal skins and medicines. The festival certainly creates opportunities for young men to meet their favorite girls and make happy matches.
The Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional gathering for the Miao people, is held from the 24th to 27th of May depending on the lunar calendar. Each dragon boat is rowed by 35 players led by a ten-year-old gong player. After the ceremony of offering wine, meat and scent, dozens of elaborately decorated boats rush through the waves, while thousands of people on both banks cheer them. Other activities, such as, singing and dancing carry on till late into the night.
As new economic policies gather strength, the Miao people are making great advances, with some areas catching up the more economically advanced nationalities. The life of the Miao people is certain to get better and better. |
|
|
