China's Miao (minority) - Culture And Customs
Our introduction to the Miao People gave a view into their history, culture, and daily life, while here we look further into the festivals, customs and culture, food, and characteristic dwellings of the Miao people.
The Miao people, one of the largest ethnic minorities in China, predominantly live in the mountainous regions of the southwest. Their communities are mainly found in:
- Guizhou Province: This is considered the heartland of the Miao people, with a significant portion of China's Miao population residing here. Places like Leishan, Kaili, and the villages of Xijiang and Langde are well-known Miao settlements. Xijiang Miao Village, in particular, is often highlighted as the largest Miao village in China and is a popular cultural tourism site.
- Hunan Province: The Miao in Hunan are primarily located in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which includes areas such as Fenghuang County, known for its rich ethnic culture and history.
- Yunnan Province: In Yunnan, the Miao people live in various prefectures, including Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which is home to many ethnic groups, including the Miao.
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Though Guangxi is primarily associated with the Zhuang people, it also has a Miao population, particularly in the northeastern part.
- Sichuan Province: Some Miao communities can also be found in Sichuan, especially in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and other areas bordering Yunnan and Guizhou.
These regions are known for their rich ethnic diversity and are characterized by rugged terrain, which has historically led to the development of distinct cultures and lifestyles among the various ethnic groups, including the Miao. The Miao are renowned for their vibrant festivals, intricate silver jewelry, elaborate embroidery, and unique architectural styles, all of which reflect their rich cultural heritage.
Festivals and Customs
The Miao people celebrate some of the traditional Chinese festivals such as Zhonghe Festival (a celebration of ancient China's respect for the dragon), Dragon Boat Festival, and New Year's Eve. In addition, the Miao have their own unique traditional festivals, such as Huashan Festival (花山节) and Siyueba (四月八). During the Huashan Festival, hundreds of Miao people gather together in decorative traditional attire to watch the "flower pole show," which resembles the May Pole ceremony in the West, and to dance to the music of the lusheng. During the festival, some young people will also take part in horse-riding competitions, bullfighting, and archery. Siyueba is an occasion celebrating grand musical and dance performances.
The festivals and customs of the Miao people are a vibrant expression of their rich cultural heritage and deep historical roots. Beyond the mentioned festivals, the Miao's cultural calendar features several other significant celebrations that highlight their customs, spiritual beliefs, and community bonds.
Lusheng Festival
The Lusheng Festival is among the most important for the Miao people, celebrated to honor their traditional musical instrument, the lusheng. This bamboo-made instrument is central to Miao music and is played during many of their festivals and celebrations. The Lusheng Festival typically involves music and dance performances, traditional sports, and sometimes buffalo fights. It is a time for young people to meet and socialize, often leading to romantic courtships.
Sisters' Meal Festival
The Sisters' Meal Festival, sometimes referred to as the Miao Valentine's Day, is celebrated in the spring. It is characterized by young women preparing colorful glutinous rice dishes, which they offer to young men as a token of affection or friendship. The colors of the rice are significant and can convey messages of love, admiration, or polite refusal. This festival is also marked by singing, dancing, and traditional attire, showcasing the elaborate embroidery for which the Miao are renowned.
Miao New Year
The Miao New Year is another significant celebration, which can occur at different times in different Miao communities, depending on the lunar calendar and agricultural cycles. It is a time for feasting, visiting relatives, and paying homage to ancestors. Activities during the New Year celebrations include bullfighting, horse racing, and lusheng performances, reflecting the Miao's deep connection to their traditions and the natural world.
Dragon Boat Racing
While the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by many ethnic groups in China, including the Miao, it holds a special place in Miao culture. The festival includes dragon boat races, which are a lively and competitive event, drawing participants and spectators from various Miao communities. The races are accompanied by traditional music, dance, and communal meals, strengthening community ties and honoring ancient traditions.
Embroidery and Silver Jewelry
In addition to these festivals, the Miao people's customs and traditions are deeply embedded in their everyday lives through their skilled craftsmanship, particularly in embroidery and silver jewelry making. These art forms are often showcased during festivals, with men and women wearing intricately embroidered costumes and ornate silver accessories. These items are not only beautiful but also carry cultural significance, representing the wearer's status, community, and history.
The festivals and customs of the Miao people are a window into their world, offering insights into their values, history, and the natural environment they cherish. Through their celebrations, the Miao continue to preserve and pass down their rich cultural heritage from generation to generation, maintaining a vibrant connection to their ancestral past.
Miao Cuisine
As with most in China, Miao people eat rice as their staple food. Many Miao also eat fried "baba," a dumpling with meat and sauerkraut fillings, while typical dishes on a Miao family's table are likely to include Xueguantang (血灌汤), "Chili bones", Guifengtang (龟凤汤), or fish cooked with sauerkraut. Some Miao living in Sichuan and Yunnan are even fond of dog meat. Chili spice is the main seasoning in Miao cuisine, though vegetables, chicken, duck, and fish are often preserved in a special earthen jar to produce a sour, vinegary flavor. Sour soup, oil tea, and flower tea are the most common drinks of the Miao people.
Miao cuisine, deeply rooted in the agricultural practices and natural resources of their mountainous homeland, is a distinctive facet of their cultural identity. Beyond the mentioned dishes and flavors, the culinary traditions of the Miao people encompass a wide array of foods and preparation techniques that reflect their close relationship with the land and their history.
Agricultural Practices and Ingredients
The Miao people's diet is heavily influenced by the agricultural products available in their region. Besides rice, they cultivate various grains such as corn and millet, and their cooking often incorporates a wide range of locally grown vegetables and herbs. The mountainous terrain and rich biodiversity allow for the foraging of wild greens, mushrooms, and medicinal plants, which play a significant role in their diet and traditional medicine.
Fermentation and Preservation
Fermentation and preservation are key aspects of Miao cuisine, born out of the necessity to store food for the harsh winters. This includes the making of pickled vegetables, such as sauerkraut, and the fermentation of soybeans into sauces and pastes. These techniques not only extend the shelf life of food but also enhance flavors, creating unique tastes that are characteristic of Miao dishes.
Unique Dishes and Flavors
In addition to the dishes mentioned, Miao cuisine features unique specialties such as "Sour Fish Soup," made with fish, sour bamboo shoots, and wild herbs. Another delicacy is "La Rou," a type of smoked pork belly that is hung above the fireplace for several months to acquire a deep, smoky flavor.
Beverages
The beverages of the Miao people, such as sour soup, oil tea, and flower tea, not only serve as daily drinks but also play a part in their hospitality and ceremonial practices. Oil tea, made by frying tea leaves with garlic, salt, and oil, then adding water and various grains, is a staple, especially during the cold months. Flower tea, made from local wildflowers, is often served to guests and during special occasions.
Culinary Celebrations
Food plays a central role in Miao festivals and celebrations, with many events featuring communal meals that showcase the rich diversity of Miao cuisine. These meals are a time for sharing and celebration, bringing communities together to enjoy traditional dishes, exchange foods, and reinforce social bonds.
Miao cuisine is a vivid expression of the people's heritage, environment, and community life. It embodies the creativity and adaptability of the Miao people, showcasing a culinary tradition that is deeply intertwined with their cultural practices, seasonal cycles, and the rugged landscape they call home.
Marriage Customs
In traditional Chinese marriage, the wife will move in with her husband and in-laws after getting married. In contrast, men of the Miao nationality are supposed to do what is called Zhaolang (招郎), a period of testing to prove their readiness for marriage.
When a wedding feast is held, the bride and groom will drink from each other's cup, what they call Jiaobeijiu (交杯酒), and the person who presides over the feast will invite the newly-wed couple to eat colored glutinous rice called Ba (糯米粑) with an image of a dragon and a phoenix pressed into it, indicating hope of having a baby soon.
Pre-Wedding Rituals
The journey to marriage for a Miao couple often begins with intricate pre-wedding rituals. One such practice involves the exchange of gifts between the two families, which can include textiles, food, and homemade wine, symbolizing the joining of the two families and their commitment to support the new couple.
Another important pre-wedding ritual is the singing of "Marriage Songs," which are performed by friends and relatives of the bride and groom over several days. These songs narrate the history of the Miao people, imparting wisdom and blessings to the couple. They also serve as a form of oral history, preserving the customs and traditions of the Miao people.
The Wedding Ceremony
On the day of the wedding, the bride's journey to the groom's house is accompanied by a procession, often featuring musicians playing traditional Miao instruments. The bride wears an elaborate costume, often hand-embroidered by her family, showcasing the skill and artistry of Miao's textile work. The groom, similarly, wears traditional attire, which may include a silver headdress and accessories, symbolizing wealth and status.
The wedding ceremony itself is marked by several rituals, including the offering of sacrifices to the ancestors, to seek their blessings for the couple's future. This is followed by the "Crossing the Fire" ritual, where the bride and groom walk over a small fire, symbolizing the purification and strengthening of their relationship.
Post-Wedding Celebrations
After the ceremony, the wedding feast is a lavish affair, with an abundance of food and drink, including dishes that are special to Miao weddings. The feast is a communal event, with neighbors and relatives contributing dishes, reflecting the communal spirit of the Miao people.
One of the most notable features of Miao weddings is the bridal chamber ritual, where the couple's friends and relatives playfully tease them, offering humorous advice and blessings. This ritual, filled with laughter and jest, serves to ease the couple into their new life together.
Continuation of Tradition
Throughout the wedding festivities, the emphasis on tradition and community is evident. The rituals performed are not only a celebration of the union but also an affirmation of the couple's identity as members of the Miao community. By adhering to these age-old customs, Miao weddings reinforce the cultural bonds that tie the community together, ensuring that their rich heritage is passed on to future generations.
Miao weddings, with their elaborate rituals, costumes, and communal celebrations, are a vivid testament to the vibrancy of Miao culture and the central role of marriage in sustaining social and familial bonds within the community.
Characteristic Dwellings
The dwellings of most Miao families are three-story wooden structures. The first floor is used to store tools and house domesticated animals; the second floor is the main living area, where the family cooks, eats, and sleeps; the third floor usually serves as a granary to store crops and foodstuffs. Good examples of characteristic Miao dwellings can be found in Guizhou province, in places such as Xijiang Miao village and Daboji Miao village.