Jizu (Ancestor Worship) Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Minority

Overview

Chinese Name: 祭祖节/中元节/鬼节/七月半
English Name: Jizu (Ancestor Worship) Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Minority

The fourteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is a sacrificial festival for the Zhuang ethnic group.

Related Legends

It is said that in ancient times, the Zhongyuan Festival (Ghost Festival) was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, a tradition that is still observed in the Wenshan region of Yunnan today. However, a disaster occurred, causing some people to celebrate the festival early as a means of escape, while others returned later to celebrate. This led to the current customs of celebrating on the fourteenth and sixteenth days of the month. The content of this festival consists of two main themes: ancestral worship and the worship of spirits. It is said that the fourteenth day of the seventh month is the day when the Zhuang’s ancestor Buluotuo passed away, so people have honored their ancestors on this day for generations.

Additionally, it is believed that the souls of those who died unnatural deaths are homeless, becoming wandering spirits or wild ghosts, roving about causing mischief. To avoid harm from these spirits, people perform ancestral worship while also honoring these wandering souls. The practice involves killing chickens and ducks, steaming cakes, and making flatbreads, as well as crafting clothing and footwear out of colored paper for the spirits.

After the family worship, at night they also conduct a wild ceremony by the river, where they burn incense and candles, set fire to paper clothing, and let the ashes float away with the water. Furthermore, on this day, any married woman must return to her parental home for a reunion, but after the festival, she must return to her husband’s home and cannot spend the night at her parental home.

Main Activities of the Festival:

1. Ancestral Worship Ceremonies

  • Home Altars: Families set up altars in their homes decorated with photographs or symbols of their ancestors. Offerings, including food and incense, are placed on these altars to honor the deceased.
  • rituals and Prayers: Family members gather around the altar to perform rituals that may include chanting prayers, singing hymns, and reciting ancestral names to express reverence and seek blessings.

2. Preparation of Offerings

  • Food Preparation: Families prepare special foods, including rice, meats (like chicken and duck), fruits, and traditional dishes, which are placed as offerings. These dishes signify respect and gratitude toward ancestors.
  • Paper Offerings: In addition to food, families often prepare paper items, like clothing and money, which are burned as offerings to ensure that ancestors are provided for in the afterlife.

3. Outdoor Ceremonies

  • Wild Ceremonies by River: During the night of the festival, families gather by rivers or fields for communal outdoor ceremonies. People light candles, burn incense, and set fire to paper offerings to reach the spirits of the ancestors and wandering souls (wild ghosts).
  • Songs and Dances: Traditional songs and dances may be performed to celebrate the festival and express gratitude to ancestors. This fosters a sense of community and continuity of cultural practices.

4. Family Reunions and Visits

  • Returning Home: Similar to other family-centered festivals, married women often return to their parental homes for the celebration. This symbolizes the connection between families and the importance of maintaining family ties.
  • Sharing Stories: During family gatherings, members share stories about their ancestors, recounting their legacies and contributions, thus keeping the family’s history alive.

5. Community Activities

  • Community Gatherings: Villagers may organize communal activities, such as feasts or games, to further strengthen social bonds within the community.
  • Cultural Performances: Various performances that showcase Zhuang culture, such as folk songs, dances, and dramas, may occur, allowing participants to engage with their heritage actively.

6. Rituals for Spirits

  • Ceremonies for Wandering Souls: In addition to honoring ancestors, activities often include rituals aimed at appeasing wandering souls or spirits that are believed to be restless. This may involve offering food and performing specific rites to bring peace to these spirits.

7. Symbolic Acts

  • Setting Lanterns or Floating Offerings: In some cases, lanterns may be set afloat on water at night, symbolizing guidance for the spirits to find their way or offerings may be cast into rivers as a respectful send-off.