Double Third Festival: A big day for Li ethnic minority
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Ancestor Worship
In addition to love, ancestor worship is very important on this big day. As followers of a pagan religion, the Li people have always had a deep respect for their ancestors. On the Double Third Festival, they put on their festival clothes and bring homemade pickles, rice wine, and gifts of pastries to prestigious elders. Then people gather around Wuzhi Mountain to hold a ritual worshipping their ancestors. Young men often go hunting and fishing and bring back their trophies for young ladies to cook. The food offerings are laid in front of a cave in which some Li ancestors, a couple, are said to have been mummified after death. After the commemoration, the younger generation will take part in a series of activities including an archery contest, pole climbing, wrestling, tug of war, and playing on a swing.
Since 2014, the festival has been celebrated on a larger scale with more varied events in a cultural park at the foot of Wuzhi Mountain. In the language of the Li people, the ritual is named after Paolongkou, a god boasting immense strength.
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The Double Third Festival is an important occasion when Li families commemorate their ancestors. |
According to Li legend, in ancient times the sky and earth were not separate. Day and night could not be distinguished because seven suns and seven moons always hung in the sky together. The earth was burning; rivers and oceans were drying up. Not even a blade of grass grew, and people were in mortal danger. Feeling for the people, Paolongkou decided to make use of his strength. He shot arrows at the suns and moons until only one pair were left. Using a rainbow as a shoulder pole and roads as ropes, he carried soil and rocks to create mountains. He proceeded to chisel gullies into the rock, turned his sweat into rivers and his hair into trees. Having spared no effort in creating a better environment for everything on earth, Paolongkou died from sheer exhaustion. However, with his dying breath, he held up his hand to become a mountain in order to prevent the sky from falling on the people below. This is why Wuzhi Mountain has the name it does – Wuzhi literally means "five fingers."
The legend of Paolongkou illustrates the Li people's relationship with nature. Due to their insular island lifestyle, nature has always been a close companion. The Li people see themselves as part of nature and are willing to co-exist and prosper together. They feel blessed with the grace of nature and they also feel grateful, awed by the power of nature. A deep sense of spirituality connects them to their natural environment. In their eyes, not only people, but also each part of creation – whether it be wind, cloud, plant, or animal – owns a body and a soul. Therefore, they worship, commemorate, and show their respect both to nature and to other people.
A god and an ancestor in the hearts of all Li people, Paolongkou is commemorated every year on the Double Third Festival. The sacrificial ceremony held at the foot of Wuzhi Mountain usually comprises two parts. Starting at 8:30 in the morning, the first ritual is hosted by venerable priests from the Li ethnic group with participation from both elders of Li communities and local Han people. The second part is open to the wider public after the performances.
Nose Flute
Played with the nose, a nose flute is a traditional instrument amongst the Li people. Its history dates back over 1,000 years among the people who live on what is now Hainan Island. Nose flutes are made from a bamboo section and vary in length and width. The most common dimensions are 60 to 70 centimeters in length and 1.6 centimeters in diameter, with a hole at the nose area for breathing and a number of fingering holes. The range of the instrument is around three octaves. Players can also perform trills and slide between notes. Nose flutes can be played solo or as part of a duet, but are also commonly used in dance performances.
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