Raosanling Ceremony of Bai Ethnic Minority in Dali
Raosanling Ceremony
Raosanling Ceremony is one of the important folk festivals of Bai Ethnic Minority in Dali region, which originated from Nanzhao and was originally a ritual of Bai nationality’s ancient religious sacrifice. Raosanling is called “Guanshanglan”(逛山林)( “strolling through mountains and forests). It is spread in Bai villages in Cangshan(苍山) urhai(洱海) area of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. So far, it has a history of more than 1000 years. In 2006, it was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.
The Origin And Meaning of the Celebrate
“Three spirits” refers to the three God symbols on the West Bank of Erhai Lake. They are the important masters worshiped by Bai nationality and the Buddhist gods introduced into Dali area. The temples dedicated to them are called “Buddha Capital” (Dali Holy Temple), “Shendu神都” (Duan Zongbang Temple段宗榜) and “Xiandu仙都” (Duan Chicheng’s Erhe Temple段赤诚的洱河神祠). There are different legends about the origins of the three spirits. It is more common to say that the villagers of 71 villages in Dali worship the central master of the “god capital” on behalf of the “owner”, and pray for a ceremony held in good years. Confused by witchcraft, praying for offspring and disaster. “Rao” is the meaning of singing and dancing.
When And How To Celebrate
Every year, from April 23 to 25 of the lunar calendar, men, women and children in Bai villages around Erhai Lake, led by a pair of singers dressed in disguise, sing and dance, begin to move around three flexible movements.
From Chongsheng Temple (Buddha Capital) , along Cangshan foothill “around” to Shengyuan Temple (Shendu) in Xizhou Qingdong(喜洲庆洞), the team carried out religious activities such as praying for the New Year in Shengyuan Temple(圣源寺) during the day, and at night they sang and danced in the fields and woods near Shengyuan Temle.
The next day, starting from Qingdong(庆洞), arrived at Jingui Temple (金圭寺) in Yicheng Village(矣城村), Riverside of Erhai Lake, offering sacrifices to the Lingdi Emperor of Erhe River. At night, they were still singing and dancing to entertaining gods.
On the third day, we walked south along the West Bank of Erhai Lake and returned to Majiuyi village(马久邑村) near Chongsheng Temple in Dali. During the three spirits period, tens of thousands of people participated and danced with men, women and children. Bai tune, Daben tune crificial tune, Sanxian(三弦), Suona(唢呐) tune were heard all the time. Money drum and tyrant whip rose and fell one after another.
Social Impact And Important Significance
Raosanling Ceremony has a long history of inheritance, a deep mass base, a large scale of activities, a vast space for visiting sacrifices, and pious attitudes of the participants, reflecting the Bai people’s ability to absorb and innovate in culture. They have a strong practical role in enhancing cultural identity and cohesion of the Bai people. They are symbols of Bai culture with symbolic significance. One of them is of great historical, scientific and artistic value. Its religious color is increasingly weak, and the content of cultural activities is increasingly rich and colorful. It has become a festival for Bai people’s spring outings and social activities.
Chinese Version: http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11110-1402.html
Translated by Winnie/张赢
