Tujia Festivals in Zhangjiajie

Torch festival of Bai People (one of the minority in Zhang Jiajie)

Time: On the night of lunar June 25^th
Place: in the village of Bai Nationality
Main activities: This torch festival hold by Bai People in Zhangjiajie area is related to the elimination of destructive insects and protection of crops. As evening came, the Bai people light many torches at home and take them to a same outdoor space. They make a big bonfire with the torches there and step over the fire againand again, earnestly hoping that The God of fire will help them drive out the evil spirits and avoid disaster.

Tujia three times celebrations of New Year’ Festival

Time:Unlike the Han Chinese, Tujia people celebrate their new year for 3 times in a year. The first time is “drive year”, in lunar Jan.28 or lunar Jan.29. The second time is “June year”, in lunar June .25.The third time is “October year”, in Oct.1.
Place: in Tujia village
Main activities: On the night of the drive year, people will set a big bonfire in the open space, around which they will have a waving dance and sing the Year songs. “June year” dates from an important remove in the Tujia history. They finished their remove on lunar June .25. Then they slaughtered oxen to offer sacrifice to gods And “June year” slowly came in being . “October year”is also known as the harvest festival of Tujia people, greeting the first Harvest season in the new home after the remove. On Oct.1, Tujia people will hold many activities and pay a New Year call to each other, celebrating the “October year” together.

Lunar June 6 of Tujia

Time: lunar June 6
Place:Tujia habitation in the city or small towns
Main activities: Tujia call June six “Tan Robe”. Women like to ted all of the cloth out, just like moving their house. And some of them wish they can remove the tile to ted the whole house. They think that the cloth tedded on that day will not go mould and remain new at all seasons. There is a legend. QingGou, a Hunan MaoGang officer, was confronted by danger on that day. He would be put to death by dismembering his body. On the execution ground, Qing Gou was angered with glaring wide open eyes. And when the executioner was getting to work, nine gold dragons flying out of his body, then the sun was dimmed and it was dark all round immediately. Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor, was scared to faint on the ground from the golden chair, and then hurrily climbed up to pray to god. At the same time, he ordered to dry up the body and plunge into Qing Gou’s appearance, putting him on the throne for seven days every year. Tujia people grabbed the arm robe sanguined by Qing’ blood, then washed and dried it for shrine, calling it “Tan Robe”

Recommendatory Place: Luoshui country in Yongding district, Zhangjiajie. There is a grand celebration on lunar June 6, and you can feast your eye on Maogusi dance, an ancient and primitive Tujia dance.