Sama Festival of Rongjiang County(榕江侗族萨玛节)
2015-09-10 19:41:52 Author：culture Source：National culture Browse number：0 Comment 0 A
the grandest ancestral worship ritual of the Dong people, has been listed as one of China's state intangible cultural heritages in 2006.
Sama Festival of Rongjiang County(榕江侗族萨玛节) is the grandest and most ancient celebration in southern Guizhou
Affectionately referred to as “the Grandmother”, Sama(萨玛), the protection goddess of the Dong people, presides over Dong villagers' health, wealth, safety, morality and longevity. Shrines and temples devoted to Sama are common in every Dong village.
Sama Festival occurs twice annually. Spring Sama Festival occurs in the first or second lunar month, prior to the busy agriculture time. Roughly speaking, lunar month falls one month behind solar month.Autumn Sama Festival occurs after the harvest, usually the ninth or tenth lunar month.
Sama Festival occurs twice annually. Spring Sama Festival occurs in the first or second lunar month, prior to the busy agriculture time. Roughly speaking, lunar month falls one month behind solar month.Autumn Sama Festival occurs after the harvest, usually the ninth or tenth lunar month.
Sama Festival
Sama Festival is presided over by Dong priests,or Shamans. Black fur pigs and green head ducks are strictly chosen as sacrifices. Pigs and ducks are not butchered by knives or blades, but by drowning or strangling, to ultimate the so acclaimed magic power to ward off demons.
Sama Festival can be a small-scale event held within a single Dong village, or a grand occasion involving dozens of Dong villages. In terms of ritual, procedure and participants, strict codes and rules had been laid down generations ago. For instance, In Sanbao Dong Township of Rongjiang County(榕江三宝侗乡), it is reserved for married women. (Occasionally, some revered senior men show up also). Anthropologists conclude this tradition as the remnants of the matriarchal society culture.
This kind of performance combining singing and dancing, is known as “Duoye”
To outsiders, Sama Festival is really primitive and bewildering. Sama Worship Ritual consist of four stages: worship Sama by offering tea and sacrifices, invite Sama out of the Sama Temple, entertain Sama with singing and dancing as well as escorting Sama back to her abode. Precluded by tea-presenting ritual, Sama Festival will be in full swing soon.
In their gorgeous attires and ornaments, Dong women swirl around like colorful butterflies, hand in hand, mesmerizing the onlookers by their elegant dances and heavenly folk songs.
Their folk song is called Ye Music(耶歌). As one kind of eulogy to Sama, it falls into migratory songs, epics and light-hearted recreational songs. This kind of performance combining singing and dancing, is known as “Duoye”, or “Dos Jeeh” in Dong language. Duoye is believed to possess the magic power from repelling enemies, bringing good harvest as well as health to the whole villagers.
Their folk song is called Ye Music(耶歌). As one kind of eulogy to Sama, it falls into migratory songs, epics and light-hearted recreational songs. This kind of performance combining singing and dancing, is known as “Duoye”, or “Dos Jeeh” in Dong language. Duoye is believed to possess the magic power from repelling enemies, bringing good harvest as well as health to the whole villagers.
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