What are the myths and legends of the Dai people in ethnic minorities?

Myths and legends of Dai water-splashing festival

There is such a legend in the beautiful Xishuangbanna. Once upon a time, there were sixteen floors in the sky. On one of the sixteen floors, there lived an evil devil. He is possessed by magic. He can float in the water, fall into the fire and burn, cut with a knife, miss the spear, bow and arrow.

Because of his extraordinary ability, he became arrogant, bullying and doing evil all day. He had six beautiful wives at that time, but that was not enough, so he married another beautiful and clever woman as his wife.

One day, it was the Spring Festival on earth, and the demon king was drinking and having fun in the palace. After three rounds of drinking, I am already drunk. His seventh wife, Zongbu (also called Shannon), took the opportunity to praise the devil: "My noble king, you are boundless in magic and noble in virtue. With your prestige, you can be the conquest of heaven, hell and earth, and you should be the master of the three worlds. "

After listening to these praises, the demon king got even more carried away, pondered for a while, turned to his beloved wife and said, "My magic can really conquer the three realms, but no one knows my weakness."

The youngest wife then asked, "Your Majesty has such magic, how can he have weaknesses?" The demon king looked around, made sure it was safe, and replied in a low voice, "I'm afraid someone will pull out my hair, strangle me and split my head." You should watch it often. "

She asked in mock surprise, "How can a king who can conquer the Three Realms be afraid of hair?" The demon king whispered again, "My hair is small, but my hair can break my neck and I can't live."

Hearing this, she secretly made up her mind. So, she continued to pour wine for the devil until the banquet was over, and she helped the devil to sleep. At this time, she carefully pulled out a hair of the devil and tied it around his neck before the devil woke up.

The devil's head immediately fell to the ground, and every drop of blood on his head turned into a fire, burning and spreading to the whole world quickly.

At this time, Wan Zongbu quickly picked up the devil's head, and the flame on the ground went out, but as soon as the head was put down, the fire burned again. So the king's six wives came, and they took turns holding the devil's head to keep the fire from burning.

Later, she returned to the world, but she was still covered in blood. People threw water on her in order to wash away her blood. The blood was finally washed away, and Zongzi lived happily on earth.

After Zongbu's death, in order to commemorate her, people splash water on each other every Spring Festival to wash away the dirt with clean water and usher in an auspicious New Year. This gradually evolved into the Dai Water-splashing Festival.

Extended data:

Songkran Festival is the biggest festival of Dai people, and it is also the most influential festival with the largest number of participants in ethnic festivals. The Dai people's water-splashing festival lasts for three or four days. The first day is "Mairi", which is similar to Chinese New Year's Eve. Dai language calls it "ten thousand business letters", which means to send the old. At this time, people have to tidy up their houses, clean up, and prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner and various activities during the festival. The next day is called "boredom day", and "boredom" means "emptiness" According to custom, this day is neither the year before nor the year after, so it is called "empty day"; The third day is New Year's Day, which is called "Maipaya Wanma". People are used to seeing this day as "the arrival of the king of heaven". The fourth day is the New Year, which is called "Overlord Horse" and is regarded as the first day of the year. People think this day is the most beautiful and auspicious day. In the early morning of the festival, Dai men, women and children put on festive costumes and carried clear water. They first went to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha, and then began to splash water on each other to wish each other luck, happiness and health. People are dancing and shouting "water! Water! Water! " The sound of gongs and drums resounded through the sky, and the water of blessing splashed everywhere. The scene is really spectacular.

Every Songkran Festival, Dai people will collect some flowers and leaves on the nearby mountains. On the day of the festival, Dai men, women and children put on festive costumes and carried clear water. They first went to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha, then dipped the collected flowers and leaves in the water and began to splash water on each other. You splash me, I splash you, and the spray blooms in the air, symbolizing auspiciousness, happiness and health. The bright and glittering water drops in the hands of young people also symbolize sweet love. Everyone threw water at each other, and there were baptisms, blessings and songs everywhere. Water splashing is laughing, and the water splashing festival has become an ocean of joy.

The first day, cultural performances; Splash water the next day; On the third day, young men and women lost their bags together. First, I went to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha, dance the elephant's foot drum dance and dance the peacock dance Festival. Then the polite Dai girl said the words of blessing, while soaking the bamboo leaves and branches in the water in the basin and splashing each other. "Splash is crazy for Dai Jia", and express sincere wishes with splashing water.

"Packet Loss" is a special game for unmarried Dai youth. "Bag" is the token of love. Made by Dai girls with cotton seeds, the four corners of the bag are decorated with colorful flowers. When the bag was lost, men and women stood in a row on the grassy lawn. First, the Dai girl threw the bag to the boy, and then the boy threw it to the girl to convey their feelings. In this way, flowers fly around, and finally the feelings communicate to a certain extent. The two sides quietly withdrew from the packet loss field and found a quiet place to whisper to each other.

"Flying high" and Kongming Lantern are also unique activities in Dai areas. People set up anti-aircraft racks before the festival, and then lit the homemade earth rocket and let it fly into the blue sky screaming. The higher and farther the stockade flies, the more glorious and auspicious people feel. Winners will also receive prizes. In the evening, people lit lanterns and candles in the open space of the square, put them in homemade "balloons", and used the buoyancy of hot air to fly the "Kongming Lantern" into the sky to commemorate the ancient sage Kongming (Zhuge Liang).

Swing washing is one of the main projects of the Water-splashing Festival. The driving field is generally located at the level and width of the river bank or in the center of the dam. There is a towering frame beside the field, and there is a special place to ignite sparks and fly lights. People of all ethnic groups dressed in festive costumes gathered here from all directions, with a sea of people and gongs and drums. People listen to Zhang Ha's singing and watch folk artists perform peacock dance, Elephant Foot Drum Dance, Butterfly Dance, White Elephant Dance, Red Deer Dance, Knife Dance and Boxing Dance. And dance "Ira" with the rhythm of the drums. Dragon boat race on the river, soaring in the air. Young men and women get together to lose packets and pass on friendship. At night, people continue to dance and revel, flying high, sparking and dancing with lights, which is very lively.

Elephant foot dance and peacock dance, Dai people can sing and dance well, so dancing is indispensable for the Water-splashing Festival. Large-scale dances are mainly arranged on the third day of the Songkran Festival, such as Elephant Foot Dance and peacock dance. From the dolls of seven or eight years old to the elderly of seventy or eighty years old, they all put on holiday costumes and gathered in the village square to participate in group dances. Elephant foot dance is warm, steady and chic. Dancers form a circle and dance with manganese gongs and elephant drums, cheering "me, me" or "water, water" while jumping! Peacock dance is beautiful, elegant and lyrical, which is the soul of Dai dance. Dancing is based on various postures of peacocks, and in the recreation of interest and beauty, it embodies the aesthetic purport of Dai children. There are also many dancers who indulge their improvisation. Some sing and dance, and some even drink while dancing. They are crazy and unrestrained, and they are not tired after dancing for days and nights.

Dragon boat race is one of the most exciting activities of the Water-splashing Festival, which is usually held on the third day of the Maypaya Night Horse Festival. On that day, people dressed in festive costumes gathered on the banks of Lancang River and Ruili River to watch the dragon boat race. There is a green dragon boat moored on the river, and dozens of lean sailors sit on it. At the command, the dragon boat ready to go flies forward like an arrow. Suddenly, the drums, gongs, trumpets and cheers of the whole river came and went, and the sounds corresponded. The festive atmosphere here has reached a climax.

References:

Dai Baidu encyclopedia