The origin of the Torch Festival has been described in a variety of ways, but its origin is most directly related to the nature worship of fire, which is expected to use fire to drive away insects and pests and protect the growth of crops. Torch Festival in Liangshan Yi language is called "Du Zai" that is, "sacrificial fire" means; in the ritual song "sacrificial fire god", "sacrificial pot Zhuang Shi" in the fire god Ayi Diegu's divine performance narrative. The original form of the Torch Festival, in short, is the ancient fire worship. Fire is the symbol of the Yi people's pursuit of light.
The Yi Torch Festival is a traditional festival in the Yi region, held on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month every year, popular in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and other Yi regions. White, Naxi, Jinuo, Lahu and other ethnic groups also have this festival. Torch Festival is held on the 24th or 25th day of the 6th lunar month, and the festival lasts for three days. On the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, the handle of the Big Dipper points upwards, and all the ethnic groups of the Yi language branch are going to celebrate the Torch Festival.
Expanded Information:
The Torch Festival is the first of its kind in China. p>The origin of the torch festival has different legends. One says that the gods of heaven and earth struggle, people use torches to help the gods of the earth to exterminate insects to defeat the gods of heaven. One said from the "Nanzhao wild history" and the teacher "Dian system". These two books: the southern edict leader Pi Luo Ge attempted to annex another five edicts, will be five edict leaders gathered in the Song Ming building and burned to death, Deng fine edict wife charity advice husband do not go, the husband is not thus killed, charity to the wisdom of the shrewd and obsessive love for her husband, found her husband's body and buried successfully, Dian people is the day of the torch hanging.
Shilin Yi Sani people regard the Torch Festival as a festival to commemorate the victory of the people in the struggle with the devil; Wuding Yi people believe that the Torch Festival is to grow the ears of grain as thick as a torch. The later people use this fire sacrifice to drive away the demons and evil spirits in the fields of their homes, so as to keep people and animals safe.
In the Yi region, the worship and sacrifice of fire is very common, Yunnan Luxi County Yi in the first day of the first month and June 24, by the housewife to choose a piece of the fattest meat thrown into the burning fire to pray for fire God blessing peace. Yongren County Yi in the same first month of the second or third of the fire worship, known as the opening of the "fire god will", Liangshan Yi see the fire pond is the fire god living in a sacred place, is strictly prohibited to touch and cross.
At the festival, young men and women of all ethnic groups light torches made of pine wood and go to villages and fields, scattering pine incense to the torches as they walk, or conducting rallies, singing and dancing, or horse racing, bullfighting and wrestling. In recent times, people have used the opportunity of gathering to socialize or meet lovers, and carry out trade and commerce activities in festivals.
The Torch Festival is an important folklore of many Yi-speaking peoples, and so far, its customs have been interpreted mainly through the triple splitting of the word "torch": "fire" - "torch" - "fire" - "torch". torch"-"festival", emphasizing its significance of "fire worship", "symbol of fertility", "fertility symbol" and "fertility symbol" in three directions. The three dimensions of the festival emphasize its meaning of "fire worship", "symbol of fertility" and "festival-carnival" respectively. The LanShan Yi Tribe's Torch Festival usually lasts for three days. According to the ceremonial activities, the festival can be divided into several parts, such as offering sacrifices, welcoming fire, playing with fire, sending fire and revelry.
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