China News Service, Hechi, March 11th: Tourists at home and abroad experience the "intangible cultural heritage" feast of the Zhuang ethnic group "Maguai Festival" in Hechi, Guangxi
Author Lin Hao Chen Yanyou
"This is the first time I have seen the shocking scene of Zhuang people offering sacrifices to Maguai to pray for good weather and good harvests. Every link is full of ritual. During the exchange experience, I feel that I have also been blessed." Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Development Exchange Association Chairman Bao Lei told reporters.
The picture shows tourists from home and abroad celebrating the "Maguai Festival" of the Zhuang ethnic group with local people in Donglan County, Hechi City, Guangxi.
Photo by Lin Hao
On March 11, the second day of the second lunar month, commonly known as "dragon raises its head", tens of thousands of people gathered together to beat bronze drums in Baying Village, Bachou Township, Donglan County, Hechi City, Guangxi, the birthplace of the Zhuang culture of "Maguai Festival". Sing folk songs, respect Maguai, and celebrate the mysterious "Maguai Festival".
The picture shows Taiwan compatriots performing on stage to celebrate the Zhuang "Maguai Festival" with local people.
Photo by Lin Hao
On the same day, Bao Lei and more than 100 Taiwanese compatriots came to Baying Village to experience the grand occasion of the festival, danced bamboo poles with local people, and presented wonderful programs such as "Clap Song" and "Go Home".
"It's so fun here. It allowed me to see a completely different Zhuang Township. I want to introduce this unique Guangxi folk custom to more people." Bao Lei said.
During the event, under the guidance of on-site staff, Song Donglong, a village representative of the Xinyi Township Representative Association in Nantou County, Taiwan, experienced the fun of "playing a bronze drum".
He said that the Zhuang bronze drums have a rich sound, and when everyone gathers in a circle to play the drums together, it is very cheerful and rhythmic, and resonates with people.
The Zhuang "Maguai Festival", also known as the Frog Festival, is popular in the Hongshui River Basin of Guangxi. In 2006, it was included in China's national intangible cultural heritage list.
Liao Kejiang, the representative inheritor of the Zhuang "Maguai Festival", an intangible cultural heritage project of the Guangxi Autonomous Region, said that the "Maguai Festival" originated more than 400 years ago. The locals followed the instructions of the Zhuang ancestor "Buluo Tuo" and beat bronze drums to invite people. The frog goddess returned to the village to celebrate the New Year and bury the dead frogs. Her filial piety moved heaven, and the Zhuang villages were able to enjoy good weather and prosperous people and animals.
Nowadays, "Maguai Festival" has become a grand traditional festival in the Hongshui River Basin.
At the antguai burial ceremony held that day, Liao Kejiang led the villagers to worship the frog king. Later, they danced the antguai dance and the farming dance to the music. They either wore masks or painted their bodies. The wonderful performance showed a strong sense of The folk culture atmosphere attracts many tourists to stop and watch.
The picture shows people in Donglan County dancing the maguai dance at the event.
Photo by Lin Hao
Liao Kejiang told reporters that Maguai dance is cheerful, vigorous and powerful, and is a narrative poem about the production and life of the Zhuang people.
In recent years, in order to inherit the culture of "Maguai Festival", local projects such as Tonggu Square, Maguai Square, and Fengyu Bridge have been built, and through activities such as bringing intangible cultural heritage into campus, more people can understand the Zhuang "Maguai Festival" .
International students from the United States, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries also participated in this event. They danced the auspicious dragon at the scene and offered blessings to the local people and tourists.
"It's really lively. The Zhuang people's costumes are very beautiful and their singing is very beautiful. Although I don't understand what they are singing, but what is national is what is world-wide. I have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture." said Niz, an international student from Pakistan.
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