Yao's unique customs and culture, what happened to Yao cutting cattle?

Cattle is a docile animal and an indispensable farming tool in ancient agricultural society in China. Ordinary families don't kill cows on farms, and cows are of high value. However, among the Yao people, there is a traditional custom of cutting cattle, whether it is the mountain Yao or the flat Yao, whether it is the Pan Yao or the Bai Ku Yao. The custom of cutting cattle by Yao nationality has a long history, which has a history of hundreds of years. The main purpose is to pay homage to the deceased, and the soul of the deceased can go to heaven smoothly after cutting cattle.

After death, the elders of the Yao nationality first carried out fake burial or sealed coffins with mud, and then after a period of time, they chose an auspicious day for a grand burial activity, the most grand part of which was cutting cattle. On this day, Yao relatives and friends related to the deceased will put on costumes and take bronze drums, glutinous rice wine and glutinous rice wine to the mourners' homes. At four o'clock in the afternoon, with the sudden stop of the sound of bronze drums, three birds sang. It indicates that the grand cattle cutting ceremony is about to begin. Generally, two cows are used as sacrifices. Two cows were tied to two wooden stakes, and each stake was tied with a crisp bamboo. This kind of bamboo should be inserted in the grave of the deceased after burial, so that the deceased and the sacrifice can be taken to heaven together.

Ready, the priest will be on stage after the bird's nest rings three times. The priest was carrying a rice basket, scattering rice in the air and mumbling something. Take your cow to heaven. Three birdguns rang again, and the priest left. Dai Xiao's family members who lost their loved ones bent down, holding fresh grass just picked, and ran to the cow to touch and comfort them. After that, the cow-chopping hand appeared. Cattle cutters must consist of a family member and a family member. The scalpels in their hands should be ground seven days in advance, and the hair can be blown off if necessary.

The first cow was hacked to death, which was very cruel and the scene was shocking. The masses angered the cows with stones or whips before chopping them, to show the ugliness and liveliness of the chopping hands. Look at a cow, you can only cut 5, 7, 9 odd knives. The number of knives to cut a cow varies according to the age of the deceased, but it must be odd. 1 The neck of a cow will be more than a foot long, which is cruel. The second cow is kind, just need to stab and bleed.