The Achang Nationality

The Achang nationality has a population of 27,000, gathering mainly in Longchuan and Lianghe County in Dehong Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan. Their spoken language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan language family. There is no written form in the language. They mainly work in agriculture, and are well known for planting paddy rice. They are also highly prestigious for making iron articles, especially "Husa" knives.

The Achang people are living on the banks of the beautiful rich Daying and Longchuan River in southwestern Yunnan Province. Although small in number, the Achangs have a long history. They are one of the earliest inhabitants of Yunnan.

The Achangs' houses are made of four materials: brick, tile, wood and stone. People live on the second floor furnished with a shrine, candle stands, a long table and hearth. Livestock is put downstairs, provision and other household supplies are put upstairs. Each house is separated from other houses with trees of light or dark green. The houses and trees on the background of mountains and rivers form a peaceful harmonious landscape.

The Achangs are fond of adding decorations to various handicrafts to display their artistic sense. Neck rings, earrings, sword scabbards and shrines are all made delicate and comely in harmonious decorations. The patterns are fresh and magic, capable of arousing peoples' poetic sentiments and vivid imaginations.
The Achangs' costumes are varied in styles. Men usually wear blue, black or white garments buttoned on the front together and black trousers. Unmarried men wrap their heads with white cloth, and married men indigo one. Women's clothes are also different depending on their marital status. Married women wear garments buttoned on the front with narrow long sleeves, close-fitting knee-length skirts, and black or blue scarves. Unmarried women wear long trousers and coil their braids around their heads. They also like to wear silver ornaments.

Agriculture, planting paddy rice in particular, is the Achangs' major source of income. Their handicraft industry is highly developed, boasting of rich traditions. It is a most salient feature that distinguishes them from neighboring nationalities. They are clever at forging iron. In fact, almost every family can do it. Their Husa knife, which is sharp, tensile, durable and tasteful, enjoys high reputation among peoples in the border areas of Yunnan.

To the Achangs, wood leaf is as important as elephant-foot drum and Mangluo (a kind of gong). Wood leaf is lauded as "the messenger of love." Only those smooth leaves that are neither too old nor too young and neither too hard nor too gentle are chosen to make it. Blowing the leaf blade while moving it to and fro produces clear, bright and melodious music. Young men often carry a wood leaf with them. When one meets a girl of his heart, he starts to blow beautiful tunes. If the girl also cares for him, she will respond in a subtle way. Then the boy will come to the girl's window everyday after sunset, blowing his wood leaf. Hearing the familiar music, the girl soon knows who is calling, and comes out to their tryst.

"Woluodengga" is the Achangs' folk singing and dancing festival, including celebrations, congratulations, leading chorus, chorus, antiphonal singing and group dancing. Whenever there are weddings, banquets or completion of houses, the hosts always prepare wine and cigarettes on the table to entertain the guests, and the guests revolve around the table while dancing. Sometimes, it is one person who leads the singing and dancing, and others chorus repeating the words backward from the last one to the first. The words change with the subject of the celebration, three beats in a bar, accompanied by dancing movements. During Spring Festivals, all the villages sing and dance, making a hilarious scene everywhere.

Coming into the 1990s, the Achangs are given a new opportunity. With a high innovative enthusiasm, they are improving their living conditions under the system of market economy. A new prosperous nationality is rising just like the morning sun.