Luban Festival of Mongolian Ethnic Minority
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 蒙古族鲁班节
- English Name: Luban Festival of Mongolian Ethnic Minority
- Festival Date: On the second day of the fourth lunar month.
The Luban Festival is a traditional festival of the Mongolian people in Yunnan. On the second day of the fourth lunar month, Mongolian people slaughter pigs and sheep, set up stages to perform operas, and bring the sandalwood statue of Luban from the Main Buddha Hall in Zhongcun to each village for veneration. During the procession to honor their ancestral master, the parade is accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, fireworks, dragon dancing, colorful boat racing, and clam-shell dancing. Spectators gather in large numbers, creating a lively atmosphere. For three days before and after the Luban Festival, Mongolian craftsmen who work away from home must return to their hometown by the second day of the fourth lunar month to pay respects to their ancestral master. Those who fail to return to celebrate the festival will be considered ungrateful and disrespectful to their teachers and ancestors.
Legendary Story
According to legend, the first person to learn the carpentry craft was a young Mongolian man named Zhanle. He was diligent, eager to learn, and very clever. He was determined to apprentice under the ancestral master carpenter, Luban (this story is fictional, as Luban lived and died 1700 years before the origins of the Mongolian people). After traversing mountains and valleys and visiting towns and villages, he finally encountered Luban one day. The master saw that this young Mongolian was sincere in his desire to learn and was extremely serious about his studies, so he took a liking to him and taught him his exceptional skills. When Zhanle completed his apprenticeship ahead of time, Luban appreciated him greatly and gave him a book titled “Mu Jing” (The Book of Wood). The master said, “Diligent study leads to a sharp mind, and hard practice refines skills. All the secrets and skills I’ve mastered in my life are written in this book. I hope that after you return, you will pass on the techniques from this book to your family and brothers, so they can also become skilled carpenters like you.” Zhanle immediately held the precious book “Mu Jing” and bowed in gratitude to his master Luban.
When Zhanle returned to his hometown in Yunnan, he never forgot his master’s teachings and changed his name to Zhan “Ban,” gathering disciples widely. Thus, the carpentry techniques were passed down through generations, and the Mongolian people in Yunnan also mastered skills in masonry, plasterwork, bamboo work, and other crafts.
Since Luban bestowed the “Mu Jing” and Zhan Ban accepted disciples every year on the second day of the fourth lunar month, Zhan Ban designated this day as the Luban Festival. Each year, on this day, Zhan Ban personally taught from the “Mu Jing” and gathered his disciples for competitions in sawing, planing, chopping, drilling, marking, and carving. He also carved a statue of Master Luban in sandalwood, which was worshipped by his apprentices and descendants to always remember Luban’s teachings and grace.
The Luban Festival is a traditional festival of the Mongolian people in the Xicheng area of Tonghai County, Yunnan Province, held on the second day of the fourth lunar month and lasting for one day. The Mongolian people living here learned architectural techniques from other ethnic groups. The houses they built were not only unique and beautiful in design but also durable, earning high praise from nearby ethnic groups. To commemorate and celebrate their achievements in construction, they designated the second day of the fourth lunar month as the Luban Festival.
On this day of celebration, masons, carpenters, and stoneworkers who are working away from home, regardless of the distance, rush back to enjoy the festival. Each village slaughters pigs and sheep and sets up stages for performances. People carry the carved statue of Luban made from sandalwood while beating gongs and drums, parading through the villages. Then everyone gathers in the square to sing and dance. Their favorite dance is called “Jumping for Joy.” In this dance, young men take the lead, holding the dragon-head four-stringed instrument, playing and dancing, while the crowd forms two lines or sometimes circles, intermingling with one another in varying formations, singing and dancing, creating a lively scene.
Festival Activities
The Mongolian ethnic group has many festival days. The Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival are all important celebrations for them. Due to interactions with other ethnic groups, the traditional festivals of these neighboring groups have also had a profound impact on the Mongolians. June 24th is a grand Torch Festival celebrated by many ethnic minorities in Yunnan, and the Mongolian people in Yunnan also enjoy this holiday. On this day, they go to the fields to worship “Mother Earth,” seeking her blessings for an abundant harvest. Children tie colorful threads to ward off disasters and illnesses; young people carry torches at night, playing and dancing joyfully.
The favorite dance of the Mongolian people in Yunnan is called “Jumping for Joy.” During the dance, young men lead the way while holding the four-stringed instrument, playing and dancing. Then, young men and women form two lines or arrange themselves in a circle, intertwining and changing formations, singing and dancing together. The performance is vigorous and lively, with the rhythm of the music perfectly synchronized with the dance movements, showcasing strong ethnic characteristics.
The Mongolian people in Yunnan are known for being skilled singers and dancers. Many of them can sing classical folk poetry that is similar to Mongolian music. The lyrics of this folk poetry are often improvised. Typically, a talented singer begins the song, and then men and women respond in a call-and-response style, making the form lively, with content that often expresses a longing for the future and a desire to leave the past behind.
