The origin and characteristics of Achang people playing with white elephants

Origin: Achang people believe in Hinayana Buddhism. In the past, white elephants were shot to welcome the soul of their beloved "Motor" Bodhisattva back to earth. Later, Achang people themselves reformed Huijie and concentrated Huijie on the National Day, making it a festive activity to shoot white elephants.

Features: It takes a certain amount of physical strength to shoot the white elephant, so this activity is regarded as a sport among Achang people. Before shooting the white elephant, you should first make a wooden shelf out of wood, then weave the elephant head and body with bamboo sticks, mount a layer of white paper on it, and then make the elephant nose out of white cloth.

The whole white elephant is as big as the real one. Moreover, in the belly of the white elephant, there are various organs and ropes, which are specially manipulated by elephant players. When shooting a white elephant, four people should hide in the elephant's belly and carry the elephant, and the other person should manipulate the rope and pulley of the elephant's nose inside.

Extended data:

Other customs of Achang nationality

1, Festival

There are many festivals around Achang nationality. From the festivals of Achang people, we can see that they are influenced by Han, Dai and Buddhist cultures. There are many festivals for Achang people in Husa, such as throwing pendulum, water-splashing festival, going into the hollow, going out of the hollow, burning white firewood, torch festival, changing yellow sheets, Chinese New Year, watering flowers and so on. These festivals are related to Hinayana Buddhism. Among them, the activity of "posing" has become more and more important in recent years, and it is also an important way for villages and Achang people to communicate with Dai people.

The biggest national festival of Achang nationality is "Aruvoro Festival". According to the wishes of Achang people, it unified the national and religious festivals of Achang people in Lianghe area to commemorate the legendary ancestors Zapama and Zamima, and the traditional Hinayana Buddhist festival of Achang people in Hulasa, Longchuan. The "Aruwolo Festival" is held every year on March 20-2 1 day of the Gregorian calendar, and the festival symbols are Qinglong and White Elephant.

From March 20th, 1994, Achang people everywhere celebrated the festival, and all villages and branches sent representatives to each other to wish the festival. The content of the festival is rich and colorful. Achang people not only show their talents, songs, dances and costumes to the guests who come to participate in the activities, but also hold various friendship competitions, which have already broken through the limitations of religion and developed in the direction of inheriting national culture, strengthening economic exchanges and promoting national unity and progress.

2. Rules

Achang people are famous for their hospitality.

Hospitality is characterized by "entertaining guests with wine". If relatives and friends come home, be sure to invite them to drink rice wine and eat, which can show respect and sincerity to the guests. If a distinguished guest comes from afar, he will be invited to drink "Jinzhai wine" at the entrance of the village.

Achang people, regardless of their relatives, neighbors and friends, often come and go, and everyone takes the initiative to help anyone who has a wedding, funeral and building a house. In Achangzhaizi, during the slack season at the end of the year, more young people get married and hold happy events, and the atmosphere of sending invitations is booming.

People respect and love each other, watch and help each other, and usually give each other gifts such as candy, biscuits and drinks. To attend the wedding, you can send money or daily necessities. Frequent contacts have strengthened our ties.

Step 3 get married

Achang families are generally monogamous patrilineal families, which implement the system of young son inheritance, and some families carry on the family line.

In the past, young men and women were free to fall in love before marriage. Every evening, young men go to their favorite girl's house or bamboo forest and play sweet tunes with Hulusheng to tease the girl. In some areas, young men and women flock to sing love songs by the fire, often staying up all night. This is called "string girls".

The conclusion of marriage is arranged by parents, which leads to the phenomenon of "marriage" (young men and women decide for life in private, the woman's parents object, and the girl elopes with her sweetheart), "grabbing marriage" and the distress of young men and women in marriage.

Nowadays, most Achang youths are free in love and independent in marriage. In some Achang villages, "string girls" and duet songs have also been replaced by exchanges in dance halls and entertainment places. The traditional marriage system of Achang nationality is mainly the custom of not marrying the same surname, but for a long time, intermarriage with Han nationality and Dai nationality is more common, reflecting the long-term close relationship between Achang nationality and brother nationality.

In recent ten years, with the continuous increase of population mobility, inter-ethnic marriages and transnational marriages have increased. In the past, in Achang society, there was a marriage form of husband and brother, and there were also customs such as aunt marrying uncle and aunt marrying each other. Since the founding of New China, this marriage custom has been gradually recognized by people and no longer advocated.

4. Funeral

Achang people usually bury themselves underground. In areas where people believe in Buddhism, after death, they ask the Buddha to recite scriptures first, and then hold a funeral on an auspicious day. There are also customs such as collecting gas, mourning and stopping to pay homage.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-White Elephant?

Baidu encyclopedia-Achang nationality