Hani people's "single-tube tobacco pot"

The Hani people are said to have originated from the Di and Qiang people who nomadic on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in ancient times. In the 3rd century BC, some Diqiang tribes migrated south and scattered in Ailao Mountain Area of Yunnan. At this time, the name "Heyi" appeared in historical records. The words about "Heyi" may be the earliest record of the Hani ancestors.

The Hani people have always been hospitable. When visiting Hani Stronghold, no matter where the guests come from or which house they visit, as soon as they step on the threshold of Hani family, the owner will take the initiative to get up and give up his seat, change the water in the hookah, light a homemade fire rope, and hold a cigarette box containing roasted tobacco and invite the guests to smoke.

The cigarette at the

is of course the best "knife cigarette" with yellow color, thin silk and thick flavor. Because tobacco is cut with a knife, the Hani people call tobacco "knife smoke". The hookah is a "single-tube cigarette pot" made by the Hani people themselves.

Speaking of the Hani people's "single-cylinder tobacco pot", it is simple and easy to make. Generally, first take a thick bamboo piece about sixty to seventy centimeters long and a diameter of 8 - 10 centimeters, open the middle bamboo piece, leaving only the bottom section, and then cut a hole in the lower quarter of the bamboo tube and insert a thin bamboo piece to make cigarette holders, and a pair of "single-tube cigarette pots" are made. Of course, some exquisite Hani people will wrap a circle of copper plates around the hole in the cigarette holder, and embed small horns in the shape of horns on the top. A kindling object can be placed between the horns.

The

and the cigarette holder materials include jade, agate, amber, etc. The connection between the cigarette holder and the chimney is mostly inlaid with gold and silver, and silk tasks are hung at the lower end for decoration. However, no matter what material is used, the position where the thin bamboo tube is inserted into the barrel is the key to whether the chimney is easy to smoke: if the insertion position is too high, the water will not be turned over due to the shallow water entering; if the insertion is too low, the water will not be turned over due to the entry. At the joints where the thin bamboo pipes are embedded, the Hani people either apply cowhide glue, asphalt, and epoxy resin so that no smoke or water leaks.

After receiving the "single-cylinder cigarette pot" and "knife cigarette" handed over by the owner of Hani, the host and guest sat around the fire pond, with the chimney tilted, holding the fire twist in one hand, and rubbing a handful of tobacco with the other hand. Put it on the cigarette holder, evenly cover the holes, hold the fire twist in front of your mouth, suck on it, and make a "puff" sound.

The fire in the

was ignited immediately, igniting a small flame. Hold the flame to ignite the tobacco and inhale at the same time. The air passes through the tobacco to support combustion, but the "grunt" water in the receiver keeps ringing. About twenty to thirty seconds, the tobacco burned out and turned gray white, and the bamboo tube filled with green smoke. Then, he looked up and breathed out smoke from his lungs. Take a break for a while, then take a puff or two to inhale all the remaining green smoke in the cylinder. After smoking this cigarette, the host took out a tea jar from the fire pond and poured a cup of strong tea for the guest. The conversation began amidst the "grunting" sound from the hookah between the guest and guest.

In Hani customs, smoking is very interesting. For the Hani people, absorbent smoke can not only meet the need for sensory comfort, but also adjust the atmosphere, tease children, etc. Sometimes the Hani people also use it to show off: after inhaling a large cavity of smoke, their tongue is pressed against the upper jaw, or hit the cheek with their hands and spit out smoke rings. Only one smoke ring passes through another smoke ring. The rings are connected, arrogant and small, and connected into a string. The smoker is also very proud.

After smoking, Hani people do not have to use their hands to remove the tobacco remaining on the cigarette holder. Instead, they gently blow up and spray a little water from the chimney to wash away the residual dirt in the cigarette pot just right. Cigarette occupies an important position in the customs of the Hani people. In the "winnowing" ancestral worship places of Hani people, there are no ancestral tablets. Where the tablets are erected are water pipes, tobacco tobacco, fire ropes, etc. used for elders. With smoke accompanying the day, the Hani people live a comfortable life.