Xibo people do not worship gods and sacrifice to Karen on the Western Migration Festival

In April of 1764 AD (the 29th year of Qianlong), 1020 Xibo officers and soldiers, together with 3275 family members, set out in two batches from Taiping Temple, a Xibo family temple in Shenyang, Shengjing, and traveled through western Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Outer Mongolia, and northern Xinjiang. They drew a full arc of thousands of miles in northern China at that time with their feet. After 15 months, The arduous trek (including a seven-month rest in Uliyasutai) arrived at Suiding on the north bank of the Yili River on July 20 and 22, 1765, and began the 60-year career of cultivating and guarding the border that the emperor promised them.

is worth mentioning that when this heroic team arrived at its destination, it also included more than 350 small lives born on the journey. However, the emperor had no choice but to go back on his word--this was thousands of miles away, this was ten generations long. After two "dynasties changes", Chabuchar has become another hometown of these Sibe descendants.

In fact, there were three large-scale westward migrations during the Qianlong period. In 1764, the last batch set off on April 19th of the lunar calendar. Roughly judging from historical data, the reason why this Baer people's westward migration is famous may be that the 18th day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar the day before departure coincides with the traditional Xibo festival "Duyin Baizhanzhakun". On this day, relatives and friends will gather together happily. Perhaps the 1764 "Du Yin Bai Zhabun" combined the festival and farewell.

Now the 18th day of the fourth lunar month is the anniversary of the Xibe people's westward migration. It is also the largest and most solemn festival of the Xibe people-the Western Migration Festival, also known as the "Huaiqin Festival."

Generally speaking, all ethnic groups have a grand festival similar to the Han Spring Festival. During this festival, they either worship gods from all walks of life, their own ancestors, or the gods and ancestors serve them together. The most solemn ceremony at the Chabuchar Western Migration Festival was the worship of Karen. On the vast land of Chabuchar adjacent to the Istanbul border, from the Ili River to the northern foot of Wusun Mountain, there stand silently seven "Kalun" built on loess.

At that time, Kalun was a post where loyal and brave Sibe soldiers and civilians moved westward to Ili to cultivate and guard the border, resist aggression, and put down rebellion. Today, Kalun has long completed their military mission and become a monument to the national spirit of the Sibe people.

Karen means lookout, guard, and post in Sibe. One of the main tasks of the Xibo Camp that moved westward to Chabuchar in the Qing Dynasty was to garrison Karen. According to the setting method, it can be divided into permanent Karen, relocation of Karen, and addition and withdrawal of Karen. Karen is responsible for tasks such as communication, inspection and observation, and connects with military stations and stations to form a security system.

During the Qianlong period, there were more than 90 Karlen buildings around Ili. In 1881, China and Russia signed the "China-Russia Ili Treaty", incorporating more than 70,000 square kilometers of land, including a large area of land west of the Horgos River, into the territory of Tsarist Russia. Most of the Cullen in Ili were included in Tsarist Russia. Now many Cullen are outside the border.

One of the highlights of the activities of Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County to commemorate the anniversary of the westward migration is the Karun worship event, which witnesses the Sibe people's ceremony to remember their ancestors and pay tribute to their heroes. The worship activities were held in Nadanmukalun, which is the most well-preserved of the seven existing Cullen in Chabuchar County.

In front of Karon, under the sky, 1020 warriors wearing armor drew bows and arrows, and soldiers wearing battle gowns stood with guns to guard Karon. Leaders of the Chabuchar County Party Committee and County Government and representatives of outstanding sons and daughters of the Xibe people stared at this Karon, which carries the glory and suffering of the Xibe nation, in the drizzle, and paid tribute to their ancestors and the heroes of the Chinese nation.

At the worship ceremony, the team leader and eight "Bolida" marched with eight flags and raised knives to restore their majestic power. The drumstick fell, and the drums seemed to come from the footsteps of the parade 250 years ago, inspiring people. The arrow left the bowstring, and the sound of dysprosium seemed to come from the cheers of the reunion more than 200 years ago.

A group of Xibe elderly people dressed in national costumes held good wine and sprinkled it on the land guarded by their ancestors. They slowly knelt down and bowed three times. Salute our ancestors with the highest etiquette of our nation.

and during the 250th anniversary of the Karun worship in 2015, Tong Liya, the imageof the Sibe nationality, also made a special trip back to her hometown to lay flowers to pay tribute to her ancestors.