Sword Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Lufeng County, Chuxiong

Overview

Chinese Name: 禄丰县高峰乡彝族火把节大刀会
English Name: Sword Festival of Yi Ethnic Minority in Lufeng County, Chuxiong
Location: Gaofeng Township, Luxi County
Date: The twenty-fourth day of the sixth lunar month

The twenty-fourth day of the sixth lunar month is a grand traditional festival of the Yi ethnic group. Besides activities like torch dancing, using fire to drive away evil spirits, worshipping ancestors and deities, holding singing and dancing performances, engaging in sports activities, and conducting material exchanges, there are also some unique local traditions. One of the most distinctive features is the Knife Festival held annually in the Yizu (Yi ethnic) community of Gaofeng Township, Luxi County.

Process

The Knife Festival is named after the Yi adult men from the nearby area who participate in it. Before the twenty-fourth day of the sixth lunar month, Yi adult men prepare their “Guan Gong knives,” with a wooden handle measuring over three feet long, polishing them until they shine. They dress in festive attire, wear headdresses decorated with pheasant feathers, and carry the large knives to gather on the Torch Ridge. Three masked deities—“Lunsi Po,” “Gengying Po,” and “Saxip Po”—representing the God of Heaven, the God of Earth, and the God of Humanity, lead the crowds wielding large knives in dramatic displays on the mountaintop, performing repeated mock fights and deadly struggles, with shouts echoing loudly, as if returning to a fierce ancient battlefield. Finally, under the guidance of the Bimo (a ritual specialist), the knife-wielding group, accompanied by the sounds of suona (a traditional wind instrument) and drums, arrives at the village to perform the knife dance for each household, driving away evil spirits.