On February 14, the fifth day of the first lunar month, Qugu Village, Mao County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, will hold the traditional Jile Russian Foot Festival that has been passed down for more than 1,000 years, which means an auspicious day for hunters, also known as "Hunting Festival" and "Men's Day", which belongs to the Sichuan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Project. It is an integral part of the Qiang tradition's "Val Russian foot" (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month) activity.
Early that morning, every household in the village had to make an animal-like bun out of gray flour for men (young and old). Then each family prepares some wine and meat and puts it in the designated place of the village. The men would bring bows and arrows and put together animal-like buns to aim and shoot, and if they shot, it would mean that the hunt had been successful during the year.
The sacrificial rites are an important part of the Gillao Foot Festival, which is a sacred worship to warn the people of the village not to overkill the animals and to live in harmony with them, as well as to pray for good fortune and a good harvest. The Qiang men who participated in the ritual conducted a hunting competition, using homemade bows and arrows to shoot the steamed buns, which symbolize animals.
Back in the village, the respected old man presided over the opening ceremony of smacking wine. Afterwards, the villagers danced a joyful sharon dance in the village's Sharon Square, immersed in a burst of singing and laughter.
Follow the camera inKeelerRussian Foot Festival
The Qiang people placed the beast-shaped buns on the cliffs.
The elders of the village preside over the sacrificial ceremony.
Qiang men shoot beast-shaped buns placed on mountain cliffs with bows and arrows.
Hunters who harvest "prey".
The Qiang women of the village hung red for the hunters.
The elders of the village presided over the opening ceremony of smacking wine.
The villagers danced a cheerful sharon dance.
Text, picture Xu Xian.
Edited by Chen Xuejun.
Second instance Xiao Rong.
Reviewed by Li Chunlin.