Dulongjiang Valley History
Dulongjiang, also Dulong River , originates from Tibet, flowing through the northwest corner of Yunnan then into Burma. Its Yunnan section is about 80km long, sandwiched by Mt. Dandanglika on the west and Mt. Gaoligong on the east. Amongst the lofty mountains bordering Tibet and Yunnan is the Dulong River Vallley, at the west slope of the north part of the Gaoligong Shan.
The Dulong (also known as Drung) ethnic group is one of the smallest ethnic groups in China. With a total population of about 7000, the Dulongs mainly live in the Dulong River Valley in the Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County in northwest Yunnan. There are also a small number of them, about 10 percent of the total, distributed in the areas along the Nujiang River in the north of Gongshan County.
The History of Dulong People
Few historical records were found regarding the origin of this ethnic group till today. But relative references show that they were once under the rule of court-appointed Naxi headmen through the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). They had no uniform name and were called “Qiao” in the Yuan Dynasty and “Qiu” or “Qu” people after the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). With the founding of the PRC in 1949, following consultation with the ethnic group it was decided to agree upon the official name of Dulong ethnic group.
Kaquewa Festival
Kaquewa Festival is the only New Year Festival of the Dulong ethnic group. It is held during the eleventh and twelfth lunar months. The exact date varies with the location and the duration of the celebration often lasts as long as the food does.The most exciting activity during the festival is killing and sacrificing an ox. At the beginning of the ceremony, a sacrificial ox will be fastened onto the sacrificial pole by the presider. Then women will put a newly-woven carpet onto the back of the ox, hang a string of beads on its horns and say to the God of Hunting: “We present this ox to you and hope you will bestow us many, many animals”. Everybody dances around it. A young man whose parents are both alive will be elected to kill the ox with a spear. The ox will be roasted after being killed and distributed to all who present at the festivities. The celebration usually lasts overnight.
