Strange and bizarre customs of the Wa people in Cangyuan, Yunnan: "Touch You Black" Carnival, Thousands of people rub mud on each other
Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County is located in the southwest of Lincang City, Yunnan Province. The county has a total population of 170,000, of which Wa account for 85.1% of the total population. It is the county with the longest border line and the largest Wa population in Lincang City. Wa cultural customs are well preserved. In order to further build the Wa cultural brand and sing the Wa culture, Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County grandly launched the "Touch You Black" activity with Wa personality characteristics during the Sigangli Carnival. Yunnan Cangyuan Touch You Black Carnival is a large-scale tourism and cultural festival created by the Cangyuan County Party Committee and County Government since 2004. It is held in the beautiful Cangyuan from May 1st to 4th every year.
The Wa people are a nation that regards black as their beauty. The Wa people believe that black is a symbol of hard work and health. Therefore, almost all Awa costumes are based on black. As early as in the past, the Wa people had the custom of wearing teeth. They believed that only by matching bright black teeth and healthy black skin could the Awa people keep in step. There is a proverb that says: Only when we are in step can we dance together, and only when our teeth are black can we laugh together. So, in the "Touch You Black" event, whoever is the darkest is the most beautiful. Looking forward to the future, yearning for beauty, pursuing happiness, and praying for peace and good fortune are the true meaning of positive life for the Awa people. For the yearning for eternal life, the Awa people have many magical legends for generations. Niangbuluo grass is the legendary immortal grass of the Awa people-whoever gets this grass will have an eternal life.
in Wa Mountain. At the annual Sigangli Carnival, when layers of women touch their faces, when sincere friendship is delivered to each other, when strong affection complements each other, when happiness and good luck accompany each other for a long time, everything becomes so simple. People who laugh wantonly, are free and unrestrained, and avoid a relaxed life for a long time, at the carnival, there must be different excitement and relief in the dark.
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"Touch You Hei" is transliterated from Wa language. It means "here is what we pursue and what we expect, stick with it forever." The Wa people are a nation that values spiritual life more important than material life. Therefore, the Wa people are always optimistic, open-minded, and carefree. They used their spare time to enjoy the joy brought by singing and dancing. They believe that there is only one time in this life, whether it is rich or poor, you will have to face the same reincarnation as a result. Therefore, you must cherish the only life you have and survive happily. This is the transliteration of "Touch You Black" in Wa. Old people often say: "I am born because I exist, and I exist because I am happy."
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"Touch You Black" is derived from the Wa folk custom of smearing pot bottom ash, cow blood, and soil on their foreheads to exorcise evil spirits and pray for peace. The carnival uses paint made of pure natural drugs. People participating in the carnival apply each other and bless each other. Touch gives the elderly health and longevity, touch gives the girls and boys a happy love, and touch gives the children to thrive. Touch your face in the dark, you will be happy for a year, touch your body in the dark, you will be happy for a lifetime! The Wa people are such a nation that advocates black."Touch you black" aims to let people participating in the carnival "black" once and truly integrate with the Wa people. When they become a Wa people, they will experience a life experience of abandoning all troubles and transcending the world., traveling through time and space, and returning to nature.
At this time, people voluntarily go to designated places and apply them to each other with imitation black mud-like health products that have sun protection and beauty and skin care effects. Touch the girl's face and hope that the girl will become more and more beautiful. Touch the old man's face and wish the old man health and longevity. Touch the child's face and hope that the child will be safe and auspicious. Touch the face of a friend and hope that friendship will last forever. The Wa people are a nation that regards black as their beauty. They believe that black is a symbol of hard work and health. Therefore, the color of "Niangbuluo" is black. In the "Touch You Black" activity, whoever is the darkest is the most beautiful. Touching your face black means permanent happiness and happiness; the more you touch, the more happiness you will be. Looking forward to the future, yearning for beauty, pursuing happiness, and praying for peace and good fortune are the true meaning of positive life for the Awa people.
As long as you join the team of touching your black carnival, you will receive the sacred blessing of "Niangbulo" medicinal mud. The 2009 "China Wa People's Sigangli Touch You Black Carnival" won the honor of "China's Top Ten Charming Festivals from 2008 to 2009" at the "Fifth China International Convention and Exhibition Cultural Festival" co-sponsored by the Chengdu City People's Government and China Convention and Exhibition Magazine, and also won the Golden Dolphin Award, the highest award in the exhibition industry in China.
The main activities of the Touch You Black Carnival include: sacrifice to cow souls, Wa wooden drum hair-shaking dance competition, touch you black carnival activities (including blessing ceremony and "Hundred Wooden Drum·Thousands of People Hair-shaking" dance performance),"Dream Si Gangli" Square cultural performances, Huotang Wine Songs-Wa original ecological customs and cultural display and other activities. Activities in the Wengding Primitive Tribe Scenic Area include folk activities such as welcoming guests, pulling wooden drums, touching your black, shooting crossbows, picking new fires, and peaking new rice; activities in the Menglai Grand Canyon include folk activities such as singing, bee-barrel encouragement, and cliff painting sacrifices. In addition, tourists can also watch activities such as specialty commodity exhibitions in various townships (towns), Wa Mountain Photography Exhibition, Wa brocade and other activities, and taste Yunnan cuisine, ethnic cuisine and Cangyuan-style specialty snacks.
