Introduction of the Festival

Chinese Name:景颇族新米节/尝新节
English Name:  New Rice Festival (Xinmijie) of Jingpo Ethnic Minority

The New Rice Festival is an enjoyable celebration of harvest among the Jingpo people. Each year, around the eighth or ninth lunar month when the rice in the fields ripens, families eagerly celebrate the “New Rice Festival.”On the eve of the festival, hosts begin preparations. They carry baskets adorned with fresh flowers and bring home bundles of ripe glutinous rice, placing them prominently in the main hall. They warmly invite neighbors and friends to join them the following day. On the festival day itself, people of all ages happily gather at the host’s home. The host welcomes guests with water and wine. After exchanging greetings, preparations for the festival meal commence. Women and young girls fry grains, pound glutinous rice, make flatbreads, boil new rice, and gather wild vegetables from the mountains. Young men joyfully sing as they fish in the river. According to Jingpo tradition, chickens and pigs cannot be slaughtered on this day.Before the feast begins, the host performs a prayer ceremony. They arrange flatbreads, pounded rice, water and wine, dried fish, and dried rats in a propitious order, expressing wishes to the spirits for peace and prosperity for humans and livestock, favorable weather, and the prevention of disasters. If their wishes are fulfilled, they promise to sacrifice a cow in the future.

During the New Rice Festival ceremony, respected elders narrate the origins of the grains. People enjoy drinking, laughing, and discussing agricultural practices such as the appropriate timing for planting, techniques for irrigating fields, skills for transplanting seedlings, methods and timing for dryland sowing, land clearing designs, and crop rotation knowledge. The New Rice Festival is a holiday celebrating harvest and promoting the exchange of agricultural techniques.

Local Activities of the New Rice Festival (Xinmijie)

1. Rice Harvesting: The festival begins with the community participating in the harvesting of rice. This usually involves traditional methods and is a communal effort, highlighting the importance of teamwork and cooperation among villagers.
2. Offering to Ancestral Spirits: Before cooking the new rice, a traditional ceremony is held to offer the first batch of rice to ancestral spirits and deities. This act of reverence expresses gratitude and seeks blessings for a good harvest and prosperity.
3. Cooking New Rice: After the ceremonial offerings, the new rice is cooked. Traditionally, this rice is prepared in various dishes, showcasing the culinary diversity of the Jingpo people. Families often prepare special foods using the new rice.
4. Feasting and Celebrations: The New Rice Festival is marked by community feasting, where families and neighbors gather to share meals. This is a time for joyous celebrations, and food plays a central role in the festivities. Dishes made from the new rice, fish, meat, and seasonal vegetables are abundant.
5. Traditional Music and Dance: Cultural performances are an essential component of the festival. The Jingpo people engage in traditional songs, dances, and music, often showcasing vibrant costumes and instruments. These performances celebrate their heritage and foster a sense of community.
6. Games and Contests: Various traditional games and competitions may be organized during the festival, including friendly contests that test skill and dexterity. This may involve activities like archery, wrestling, and other local games that bring the community together in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.
7. Cultural Exhibitions: Sometimes, cultural exhibitions are held to showcase the Jingpo’s rich traditions, crafts, and skills. This can include displays of traditional clothing, handmade crafts, and local agricultural practices.
8. Sharing and Exchange: Communities often engage in sharing and exchanging food and gifts during the festival, symbolizing unity and generosity. This fosters good relationships among community members and strengthens social ties.
9. Spiritual Reflection: The festival is also a time for spiritual reflection, where individuals may engage in personal prayers or seek blessings for health, prosperity, and well-being for the coming year.
10. Community Bonding: Throughout the festival, there is a strong emphasis on community bonding and cooperation, reinforcing relationships among families and neighbors and creating a sense of belonging.

The Introduction of GIrls Festival

Chinese Name:景颇族能仙节/姑娘节
English Name:  Girls Festival (Guniangjie / Nengxianjie) of Jingpo Ethnic Minority

Nengxian Festival, also known as the Girls’ Festival, is an important celebration among the Jingpo youth, predominantly young men and women. It typically takes place on the 10th day of the second lunar month each year. This festival holds significant cultural significance among the Jingpo people, providing an opportunity for young men and women to showcase their talents, make friends, and seek romantic relationships.

Nengxian Festival usually occurs in spring, symbolizing renewal and hope as nature awakens. The festival is often held in remote mountain areas or scenic open spaces away from villages, allowing the youth to gather freely away from the constraints of daily life.

During the festival, young men and women dress in festive attire adorned with various decorations. They gather to engage in activities such as singing traditional songs, participating in shooting contests, using slingshots, and performing knife dances, demonstrating their skills and courage. During the daytime, competitions and performances showcase their talents and strengths. In the evening, couples exchange gifts and express their affections, some even deciding to commit to lifelong partnerships on this special day.

Nengxian Festival is not merely a celebration but also a significant platform for socializing, making friends, and finding love among the younger generation of the Jingpo people. It allows them to freely express their joy and affection, while also preserving and promoting their cultural heritage and spirit.

Local Activities of the Girls Festival (Guniangjie / Nengxianjie)

1. Cultural Performances: The festival usually begins with traditional performances, including songs and dances. Young women often perform folk dances in colorful attire, showcasing the richness of Jingpo culture and traditions. These performances are not only entertaining but also serve to express beauty and femininity.
2. Beauty Pageants: One of the highlights of the Girls Festival is the celebration of beauty and grace. Young women may participate in pageant-like competitions, where they display their traditional attire and perform cultural dances, showcasing their skills and traditions to the audience.
3. Crafts and Skills Demonstration: Many young women participate in displaying traditional crafts, handiwork, and skills such as weaving, embroidery, and other textile arts. These demonstrations emphasize the importance of cultural heritage and women’s roles in preserving these traditions.
4. Matchmaking Activities: The festival provides an excellent opportunity for young men and women to meet. Various activities and games are organized to encourage interaction. Young people might engage in traditional matchmaking games, where they can get to know each other in a festive and relaxed environment.
5. Traditional Sports and Games: Various games and contests are held, often involving traditional sports that encourage teamwork, friendly competition, and physical activity. These games serve to unite participants and foster camaraderie.
6. Culinary Feasts: Food plays an important role in the celebrations. Families and communities prepare a variety of traditional dishes to share during the festival. This communal feasting not only highlights local cuisine but also strengthens social bonds.
7. Dressing Up: A key aspect of the festival is the dressing up of young women in traditional Jingpo attire. These outfits are often vibrant and beautifully adorned, reflecting the cultural identity of the Jingpo people. This practice emphasizes beauty, femininity, and cultural pride.
8. Rituals and Offerings: In some areas, there may be rituals invoking blessings for young women and their families. Offerings to ancestors and deities may be presented as a gesture of appreciation and hope for future prosperity and well-being.
9. Community Involvement: The Girls Festival is a community-wide event, drawing not just young individuals but also families and elders. This strengthens community ties and fosters a sense of belonging among the participants.
10. Social Gatherings: Throughout the festival, various social gatherings, discussions, and storytelling sessions may take place. Older generations often share stories, songs, and wisdom with the youth, enriching their cultural understanding and appreciation.

Munaozongge（目瑙纵歌） means singing and dancing together in the Jingpo Ethnic language, which is attended by thousands of revelers each year. It originated from religious activities.The main content of Munaozongge is dancing. In the center of the dance hall, there are four wooden pillars, called Munaozongge, which are used to worship the sun god and instruct the dance line. Munaozongge, which integrates folk customs and activities such as music and dance, painting and sculpture, costume, architectural crafts, religious rituals and customs, is a concentrated display of Jingpo ethnic culture and art, customs and etiquette, and spiritual features. It is of great significance to the study of Jingpo ethnic history and culture.

Longchuan County（陇川县） is the most complete and representative area with the largest population of Jingpo nationality and the most complete and standardized inheritance of Munaozongge.

Symbolism and Setting of Munaozongge

Date: From the fifteenth day of first lunar month to the nineteenth day of the same month
Place: Dehong Prefecture（德宏州）

Munaozongge is staged on a square where Jingpos have to arrange Munao Poles. The Poles are designed or flanked with different symbolic patterns.

• Ferns: fern sprouts look like fists, and leaves resemble lining arrows; so ferns are symbol of union and progressing.
• Swords: symbol of bravery and fortitude.
• Himalaya: said to be where Jingpos originate.
• Crops and live stocks: symbol of pursuit for bight future and well-off life.
• Gongs and other musical instruments: symbol of auspiciousness.
• Fences: symbol of triumph, etc

Kinds of Munaozongge

There are 12 kinds of Munaozongge. The traditional song of Munaozongge includes Su Munao/苏目瑙( for harvest celebration), Ba Dang Munao/巴当木脑(for victory celebration), Dingshuan Munao/定栓目瑙(for new residence completion celebration), Deru Munao/德如目瑙(for vows of war), Tingre Munao/亭热目瑙(for celebrating the site selection and foundation laying ), Naosai Munao/瑙赛目瑙(recreational activities), Kenran Munao肯然目瑙(for celebrating marriage) ,Tingran Munao亭然目瑙(for making friends) ,  Kelong Munao/克龙目瑙 (welcome guests), Gongran Munao宫然目瑙 (divorce respectively) and Zhu Munao /朱目瑙(funeral and sacrificial dance).

Munao Zongge Festival of the Jingpo ethnic group, prevalent in the Jingpo-populated areas of Yunnan Province, is a traditional ethnic festival and a national intangible cultural heritage. Munao Zongge, also known as “Zongge,” means “a song and dance gathering.” The festival is the most grandiose traditional event for the Jingpo people, featuring thousands of participants dancing in unison to a single drumbeat, creating a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle. It is known as the “Dance of Heaven” and the “Dance of Thousands” in China’s western region. “Munao” is a Jingpo word, while “Zongge” is a literal translation from the Zaiwa language, meaning everyone comes together to dance. In the Jingpo-populated areas of Dehong Prefecture, the Munao Zongge Festival takes place around the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, with celebrations held in every village.

On May 20, 2006, the “Jingpo Munao Zongge” declared by Longchuan County, Yunnan Province, was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list, numbered IX-11.

Historical Origins

According to Jingpo folklore, the origins of Munao Zongge are as ancient as humanity itself. It is said that in ancient times, Munao Zongge was a dance in the palace of the Sun King, unknown to humans and only performed by the children of the Sun King. The Sun King, Zanwa Nengsang, sent an emissary, Bizoruitang Ji Modai, to invite earthly creatures to participate in the Munao Zongge—Zan Munao held at the Sun King’s palace. Birds from Earth attended the gathering and danced with the gods of the Sun Palace, eventually teaching this dance to humans.

Throughout the historical development of the Jingpo people, primitive religious rituals, including the original form of Munao Zongge, were prevalent. These rituals were initially exclusive to the nobility and involved complex and lengthy ceremonies. Since the founding of New China, Munao Zongge has evolved into a cultural and recreational event, with simplified rituals, reduced animal sacrifices, and streamlined procedures, saving significant human, material, and financial resources.

Before 1950, Munao Zongge was a significant sacrificial activity in Jingpo areas, held to honor the greatest deity, “Modai.” After 1950, the Munao Zongge Festival became a grand event for making friends, enhancing friendships, facilitating economic and cultural exchanges, and strengthening ethnic unity.

Main Activities

The festival lasts for four days. The first day is “Qi Bai,” during which officials perform final checks and verifications for the smooth conduct of the “Zheng Bai” days, including setting the festive atmosphere, preparing guest gifts, and checking musical instruments. Small vendors make final adjustments to their stalls and prepare for the busy days ahead.

The second and third days are “Zheng Bai,” the most vibrant days of the festival. The second day starts with an opening ceremony, including a bull-slaying ritual performed by priests. Fireworks and firecrackers signal the official start of the festival. The highlight is the Munao Zongge dance, with thousands dancing to drums, gongs, and Jingpo songs. Participants, dressed in traditional attire, follow four elders wearing dragon robes and peacock feathers into the dance arena. The elders perform solo dances, followed by large groups led by eight men and eight women, forming a massive circle. The dance follows the ancestral migration routes depicted in the Munao Shidong diagram, with intricate formations changing with the drumbeats, creating a grand and powerful spectacle. Dancers, immersed in the festivities, wave silver swords and fans, adding to the festive atmosphere. The night features performances by Jingpo delegations, including singing, dancing, and skits.

The fourth day is “Luo Bai,” featuring various traditional Jingpo competitions such as climbing slippery poles, tugging bamboo sticks, and weaving contests.

Cultural Characteristics

Jingpo Munao Zongge is a comprehensive art form combining music, dance, religion, ritual, and visual performance. It encompasses various cultural elements, including mythology, primitive religion, military and agricultural rites, and daily blessings. Modern Munao Zongge festivals often integrate multiple cultural meanings.

The dance aims to pray for smooth sailing, peace, prosperity, and unity.

Heritage Protection

Heritage Value

During Munao Zongge, Jingpo people trace their cultural history through the “Munao Shidong.” The festival incorporates traditional cultural elements, making it an essential means of cultural education.

1. Inheriting and Developing Traditional Culture: Historically, the Jingpo people had no written language until the late 19th century when Western missionaries created a Jingpo script using Latin letters. Thus, the grand gatherings like Munao Zongge serve as crucial platforms for cultural transmission, with elders reciting the creation epic “Lebao Zaiwa” and demonstrating agricultural dances, imparting knowledge to the broader community.
2. Strengthening Ancestor Worship: The intricate patterns on the “Munao Shidong” symbolize the Jingpo ancestors’ migration journey, reinforcing the community’s ancestral roots and identity.
3. Enhancing Ethnic Unity: The festival fosters communication and interaction among Jingpo subgroups and even international relations, as seen in the 2010 International Munao Zongge Festival in Dehong, which invited Jingpo representatives from China and abroad, including Myanmar, India, and Thailand.

Heritage Bearers

Yue Matong, a Jingpo man from Yunnan Province, was selected in June 2009 as a representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage project “Jingpo Munao Zongge,” declared by Longchuan County, Yunnan Province.

Protection Measures

In November 2019, the Longchuan County Cultural Center was designated as the protection unit for the “Jingpo Munao Zongge” project on the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Projects. The center was re-evaluated and deemed qualified on October 31, 2023.

Social Impact

On February 6, 2012, the “2012 China Dehong Jingpo International Munao Zongge Festival” set two world records: the “largest Jingpo thousand-knife dance” and the “largest Munao Zongge festival with ten thousand participants.” On February 22, 2016, the opening ceremony of the 2016 China Dehong Jingpo International Munao Zongge Festival was held in Mangshi, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The Jingpo people welcomed guests with a “Green Leaf Banquet,” which served over 3,391 people, setting the world record for the “largest Jingpo Green Leaf Banquet.”

Chinese Version:http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11110-1406.html
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11111-1207.html                                                                                            Translated by Olive Zhang/张银芳

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