As one of the many ethnic groups in China, the She ethnic group has a unique history, culture and customs. They are mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and other provinces, and coexist in harmony with other ethnic groups, jointly writing a historical chapter of the pluralistic integration of the Chinese nation. The She culture is rich and colorful, among which stories and folk art are an important part of the She culture, which provides valuable information for future generations to understand and study the history and culture of the She nationality.
1. Historical origins and migration development
The history of the She people can be traced back to the ancient Yue people. According to historical records, the ancestors of the She people were a branch of the ancient Yue people, who once lived in the southeast coastal area. With the changes of history, the ancestors of the She nationality gradually migrated to the mountainous areas in the south, forming today's distribution pattern.
In the process of long-term migration, the She people have experienced many hardships and obstacles. They climbed mountains and mountains, overcame thorns and thorns, and opened up space for survival. At the same time, the She people have also actively exchanged and integrated with other ethnic groups, absorbed the advanced culture and technology of the Han nationality and other ethnic groups, and promoted their own development.
Second, the story and legend of the She people:
The stories and legends of the She people are rich and colorful, and the themes are wide, including myths, legends, folk tales, etc. Most of these stories and legends are based on the theme of praising heroes and promoting the national spirit. Let's find out:
1. The legend of Gao Xin and Pan Gu.
Gao Xin was an emperor in ancient times, and he had a princess named the third princess, who was sick because she missed her distant hometown. In order to cure the princess's illness, the Gaoxin clan issued an example that whoever could cure the princess's illness would marry his daughter. At that time, there was a divine dog named Pan Gu, who came in human form to answer the list. Pan Gu took the princess back to the princess's hometown, and the princess's illness was cured. Later, Pan Gu married the princess and gave birth to six boys and six girls, which is the ancestor of the She tribe.
2. The legend of the origin of the Lan Zhong family.
The She people have two important surnames – Lan and Zhong. There is also a legend about the origin of these two surnames. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was an immortal named Thunder God in the sky, who married a woman in the world and gave birth to the ancestors of the Lan and Zhong clans. Later, Thor was captured by the Emperor of Heaven, and his wife raised two children alone**. In memory of their mother, Lan and Zhong took their mother's surname.
3. The legend of Lei Gong and Lan Sister-in-law.
Legend has it that in ancient times, Lei Gong often haunted the world, met and fell in love with a woman named Sister-in-law Lan. But after Lei Gong's identity was revealed, he had to leave the world and return to heaven. Sister-in-law Lan went through a lot of hardships in order to find Lei Gong, and finally moved the Emperor of Heaven and allowed her to be with Lei Gong.
3. She peopleTraditional festivals:
The festivals of the She ethnic group mainly include the March of the lunar calendar.
3. The Dragon Festival in the fourth month of the lunar calendar and the beginning of July.
7. Beginning of autumn, Mid-Autumn Festival, Chung Yeung Festival, Spring Festival, etc.
Among them, March 3 is the traditional festival of the She people, commonly known as March 3. The traditional third day of March kicks off with the "Huiqin Festival" on the second day of the second lunar month. On this day, the men and women of the She ethnic group gather in front of the ancestral shrine to hold a grand ceremony of worshiping the ancestors and praying for blessings, and invite each other to eat "black rice".
In addition, the "Dividing Dragon Festival" in the fourth month of the lunar calendar is also an important festival. The Fenlong Festival is a folk festival that spreads in the north and south, and the content and date are not uniform. The main content of this festival is to worship the dragon king and pray for good weather and good weather, peace and prosperity of the country and the people, and a good harvest.
The Spring Festival is also an important festival for the She people, starting from the "sacrificial stove" and "sending the gods" on the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month, the She people began to celebrate the New Year. On Chinese New Year's Eve, every household "eats the next year", which is one of the characteristics of the New Year. In the early morning of the first day of the new year, the first sound of the rooster, each She village invariably opens the hall door, lights the cannon (that is, the double sound of the paper cannon), people go to the village to string villages, the elders congratulate each other on the New Year, the younger generation greets the elders, the housewives rush to the well to fetch water, and boil the noodles for breakfast.
The festival characteristics of the She nationality are mainly reflected in the admiration and gratitude for the ancestors, the yearning for a better life, and the inheritance and promotion of traditional culture. These festivals are not only important days for the She people to celebrate the harvest and pray for good luck, but also an important carrier for inheriting and promoting She culture.
Fourth, of the She ethnic groupUnique customs and culture:
1. Clothing culture.
The costumes of the She ethnic group have strong national characteristics. Men mostly wore a short cardigan, while women wore a long shirt with a right placket and colored lace trimmed with collar, cuffs and trouser cuffs. She women are also good at embroidery, and their embroidery is exquisite, which is an important part of She culture.
2. Food culture.
The diet of the She ethnic group is based on rice as the staple food, supplemented by potatoes, beans and other miscellaneous grains. They are adept at making a variety of delicacies using local specialties such as black rice, Suga leaf dumplings, and more. In addition, the She people also like to drink rice wine, which is an important drink for their hospitality.
3. Residential culture.
Most of the She people live in mountainous areas, and their houses are built along the mountains. Traditional She houses are mainly civil structures, with roofs covered with green tiles and walls inlaid with bamboo or wooden boards. This architectural style not only adapts to the natural environment of the mountainous area, but also reflects the wisdom and aesthetic taste of the She people.
4. Marriage customs.
The marriage customs of the She ethnic group are unique. In the past, young women of the She ethnic group sang mountain songs to exchange feelings and choose mates. When the two parties are in love, the man will ask the matchmaker to propose marriage and give a dowry gift. At the wedding, the bride wears a gorgeous wedding dress and sits in a sedan chair, while the groom welcomes the bride on horseback. Ceremonies such as worship and toasting are also held at the wedding, and the scene is lively and festive.
5. Funeral customs.
The funeral customs of the She ethnic group are also quite distinctive. In the past when burials were popular, the She people were very particular about feng shui and the location of cemeteries. They believe that the graves of their ancestors can affect the fate and well-being of future generations, so they ask Feng Shui to choose an auspicious burial site for the deceased and hold a solemn funeral ceremony to remember the deceased and pray for the safety and prosperity of future generations.
With the development of the times and the progress of society, the She area has also undergone earth-shaking changes. In particular, since the beginning of reform and opening up, the party and the state have formulated a series of policies and measures to support the development of ethnic minorities, which have effectively promoted the economic and social development and the cause of ethnic unity and progress in the She nationality areas, and have achieved remarkable results. Today, many She areas have achieved the goal of shaking off poverty and becoming well-off, and the living standards of the people have been greatly improved. Traditional Chinese history and culture