Dong people
Encyclopedia
The Dong a Kam–Sui people of southern China, are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China
. They are famed for their native-bred Kam Sweet Rice , carpentry
skills, and unique architecture, in particular a form of covered bridge
known as the "wind and rain bridge" . The Dong people live mostly in eastern Guizhou
, western Hunan
, and northern Guangxi
in China
. Small pockets of Dong speakers are also found in northern Vietnam
.
, Guangdong
and Wuzhou
, Guangxi
. The Northern Dong maintain that their ancestors fled Zhejiang
and Fujian
because of locust swarms. Many Dong rebellions took place during the Ming
and Qing
Dynasties, but none of them were successful in the long run. Although the Dong and Han Chinese
peoples generally get along well today, the history of Guizhou
is marked by innumerable tensions and conflicts between the Han Chinese and non-Han minority groups. Today, many Dong are assimilating into mainstream Chinese society as rural Dongs move into urban areas, resulting in intermarriage with the Han Chinese and the loss of the Dong language
. However, various attempts to preserve Dong culture and language have been very successful, and improving living conditions in rural Guizhou may entice local Dong villagers to stay rather than move to major urban areas.
(autonym: ) is a Tai–Kadai (Zhuang–Dong) language. http://www.ethnologue.org/show_family.asp?subid=90182 Ethnologue
distinguishes between two Dong dialect
s, with the codes kmc for the southern dialect and doc for the northern. Sui
, Maonan
, and Mulao
are the Tai–Kadai languages which are most closely related to Dong.
The Dong people sometimes use Chinese character
s to represent the sounds of Dong words. A new orthography
based on the Latin alphabet
was developed in 1958, but it is not used very much due to a lack of printed material and trained teachers.
as a world-class intangible cultural heritage
since 2009. Dong choral songs include nature songs, narratives, and children's songs.
One-part songs (as opposed to polyphonic, or many-part, songs) can be sung be one or many people (Geary 2003:246-247). They include:
Opera
s are also highly popular among the Dong, and are performed by local opera troupes (Geary 2003:244). Two famous Dong playwrights are Wu Wencai (1798–1845), author of Mei Liangyu, and Zhang Honggan (1779–1839).
Dong oral literature contains a rich array of legends and folk tales. Many of these popular tales are about the leaders of past uprisings (Geary 2003:218). Celebrated leaders include:
Popular folk tales are listed below. They can be found in The Kam People of China by D. Norman Geary.
Dong common law is known as kuan and is practiced at four different levels (Geary 2003:62).
Weddings last three days and are first held at the bride's family's home. The bride is later sent to the groom's home, where an afternoon reception and all-night feast then ensue. The next day there is a "blocking the horse" ceremony where the hosts block the guests while singing songs. The bride typically resides at her parents' house for a few months or even years. Silver jewelery is also passed onto the bride by her mother.
, Dong funerals are highly elaborate. People who died from unnatural causes (i.e., accidents) are cremated
, while those who died from natural causes are buried (Geary 2003:102-103). Burials consists of the following phases (Geary 2003):
Popular scenic spots in Dong-speaking territories are the Jiudong region, Liudong region, Chengyang village, Pingdeng region, and Yuping region.
, millet
, various vegetables, plums, peaches, pears, mushrooms, mandarin orange
s, pomelo
s, and watermelon
s. Cotton
is also cultivated for textile production. Generally the Dong occupy lower-lying land than the Miao
, and are thus wealthier than them.
Animals frequently raised by the Dong people include (Geary 2003):
The "four pillars" of Dong cuisine are glutinous rice
, sour (pickled) food, hot pepper, and rice wine
(Geary 2003). Other popular local dishes and condiments include barbecued fish, intestines sauce, purple blood pork, chicken-blood sauce, oil tea, gongguo (glutinous rice snack sweetened with liana) and bianmi (another glutinous rice snack). Also, the giant salamander is a rare local specialty. Two hot meals (breakfast and dinner) and one cold meal (lunch) are served everyday.
The Dong-speaking area is famous for its fir wood. Fir wood from the Dong area has been used to build the ships of 15th-century explorer Zheng He
and the Great Hall of the People
. Major economic activities include carpentry and the manufacture of silverwork and wickerwork. Baskets and other wickerwork are usually made by men. Baskets can be made from five types of plant materials, namely glutinous rice
straw, cogongrass, Guangxi
grass, bamboo
, and rattan
(Geary 2003:146-147).
In recent years, tourism has also become a major source of income for the Dong people (Geary 2003).
Two new year festivals
One-day long work-related festivals, where chicken, fish, and glutinous rice
are eaten.
There are a total of four different harvest festivals which last 1–3 days.
Singing festivals
Remembrance festivals
Miscellaneous festivals
Bullfighting
is also historically popular among the Dong people (Geary 2003:199).
(Geary 2003). Totems include turtles, snakes, and dragons, and worshipped ancestors include the mythical figures of Song Sang, Song En, Zhang Liang, and Zhang Mei (Geary 2003:149-151). The Dong people also use rice grains, bamboo roots, snails, and chicken bone, eyes, blood, and eggs for divination. Today, Taoism
, Buddhism
, and to a lesser extent Christianity
are also practiced by the Dong people.
Snakes are also highly revered, and are often thought to have been the progenitors of the ancient Baiyue peoples, which included the Dong (Geary 2003:149). The original two founders of the Dong people, Zhang Liang and Zhang Mei, are often called upon to help with illnesses and disasters.
Shamanism
is practiced by the Dong and bears many parallels with Miao
(Hmong) shamanism. One major duty of shamans is to recover the souls of sick people (Geary 2003:169).
Audio
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. They are famed for their native-bred Kam Sweet Rice , carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
skills, and unique architecture, in particular a form of covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
known as the "wind and rain bridge" . The Dong people live mostly in eastern Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
, western Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
, and northern Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Small pockets of Dong speakers are also found in northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam
For the former country, see North VietnamNorthern Vietnam is one of the three regions within Vietnam ....
.
History
The Dong are thought to be the modern-day descendants of the ancient Liáo (僚) peoples who occupied much of southern China (Geary 2003). Dong legends generally maintain that the ancestors of the Dong migrated from the east. According to the migration legends of the Southern Dong people, the ancestors of the Southern Dong came from GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
and Wuzhou
Wuzhou
Wuzhou , historically known as Wuchow, is a prefecture-level city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.-Geography and climate:Wuzhou is located in eastern Guangxi bordering Guangdong province. It is at the confluence of the Gui River and the Xun River where they form the Xi River; 85% of all...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
. The Northern Dong maintain that their ancestors fled Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
and Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
because of locust swarms. Many Dong rebellions took place during the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
Dynasties, but none of them were successful in the long run. Although the Dong and Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
peoples generally get along well today, the history of Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
is marked by innumerable tensions and conflicts between the Han Chinese and non-Han minority groups. Today, many Dong are assimilating into mainstream Chinese society as rural Dongs move into urban areas, resulting in intermarriage with the Han Chinese and the loss of the Dong language
Dong language
The Kam language, also known as Gam , or in Chinese, Dong or Tung-Chia, is the language of the Dong people...
. However, various attempts to preserve Dong culture and language have been very successful, and improving living conditions in rural Guizhou may entice local Dong villagers to stay rather than move to major urban areas.
Language
The Dong languageDong language
The Kam language, also known as Gam , or in Chinese, Dong or Tung-Chia, is the language of the Dong people...
(autonym: ) is a Tai–Kadai (Zhuang–Dong) language. http://www.ethnologue.org/show_family.asp?subid=90182 Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
distinguishes between two Dong dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
s, with the codes kmc for the southern dialect and doc for the northern. Sui
Sui language
The Sui language is a Tai–Kadai language spoken by the Sui people of Guizhou province, China. According to Ethnologue, the total number of speakers is around 200,000 as of 1999. Sui is also unique for its rich inventory of consonants, with the Sandong dialect having as many as 70 consonants...
, Maonan
Maonan language
The Maonan language is a Kam–Sui language spoken mainly in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, Hechi, northern Guangxi by the Maonan people.-Demographics:...
, and Mulao
Mulam language
The Mulam language is a Kam–Sui language spoken mainly in Luocheng County, Hechi, northern Guangxi by the Mulao people. The greatest concentrations are in Dongmen and Siba communes. Their autonym is mu6 lam1...
are the Tai–Kadai languages which are most closely related to Dong.
The Dong people sometimes use Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
s to represent the sounds of Dong words. A new orthography
Orthography
The orthography of a language specifies a standardized way of using a specific writing system to write the language. Where more than one writing system is used for a language, for example Kurdish, Uyghur, Serbian or Inuktitut, there can be more than one orthography...
based on the Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
was developed in 1958, but it is not used very much due to a lack of printed material and trained teachers.
Culture
The Dong or Kam People are internationally renowned for their polyphonic choir singing called Kgal Laox in their own language , which can be literally translated as Kam Grand Choir in English. The Kam Grand Choir has been enlisted by the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a world-class intangible cultural heritage
Intangible cultural heritage
The concept of intangible cultural heritage emerged in the 1990s, as a counterpart to the World Heritage that focuses mainly on tangible aspects of culture...
since 2009. Dong choral songs include nature songs, narratives, and children's songs.
One-part songs (as opposed to polyphonic, or many-part, songs) can be sung be one or many people (Geary 2003:246-247). They include:
- Duo Ye songs
- Love songs - accompanied by the pipaPipaThe pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments . Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12–26...
or niutuiqin - Drinking songs
- Bride's songs
- Mourning songs
- PipaPipaThe pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments . Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12–26...
songs
Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s are also highly popular among the Dong, and are performed by local opera troupes (Geary 2003:244). Two famous Dong playwrights are Wu Wencai (1798–1845), author of Mei Liangyu, and Zhang Honggan (1779–1839).
Dong oral literature contains a rich array of legends and folk tales. Many of these popular tales are about the leaders of past uprisings (Geary 2003:218). Celebrated leaders include:
- Xing Ni - An ancient figure, whose legend dates possibly from the Tang DynastyTang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
(Geary 2003:7). - Wu Mian - Leader of a 1378 rebellion during the Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
due to drought and famine. - Lin Kuan - Led a 1397 rebellion but was later executed. Popular among the Northern Dong and is commemorated by an ancient tree.
- Wu Jinyin - Wu revolted in the 1740 to resist grain taxes, but was killed in 1741.
Popular folk tales are listed below. They can be found in The Kam People of China by D. Norman Geary.
- The two orphan brothers
- The unfriendly eldest brother
- Ding Lang and the dragon princess
- Zhu Lang and Niang Mei
- Shan Lang and E Mei
- Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
- Suo Lao
- Mei Dao
- The frog and the swallow (rice agriculture tale)
- The dog (rice agriculture tale)
- The singing tree (origin of singing tale)
- Liang Niangni (origin of singing tale)
- Lou Niang (drum tower tale)
Society
Dong clans are known as dou, and are further divided into ji, gong, and households (known as "kitchens"), respectively from largest to smallest in size (Geary 2003:68-69). Village elders were traditionally the village leaders, although the government replaced these elders with village heads from 1911-1949. Dong society was also traditionally matriarchal, as can be evidenced by the cult of the female goddess Sa Sui (Geary 2003:88). Before the advent of the Han Chinese, the Dong had no surnames, instead distinguishing each other by their fathers' names.Dong common law is known as kuan and is practiced at four different levels (Geary 2003:62).
- Single village
- Several villages
- Single township / entire local rural area
- Multiple townships / large portion of the entire Dong population
Courtship and marriage
Traditional courtship consists of three phases:- Early meeting phase where men and women sing songs and recite poems to one another.
- Deepening love phase where the courtship is one-to-one and the songs are more spontaneous.
- Exchanging a token phase where a man gives a woman a gift, with the woman expected to make excuses in order to test her suitor. The token is usually a minor gift without much monetary value. However, it is highly important symbolically, as it is the equivalent of an engagement ring in Western cultures (Geary 2003:80).
Weddings last three days and are first held at the bride's family's home. The bride is later sent to the groom's home, where an afternoon reception and all-night feast then ensue. The next day there is a "blocking the horse" ceremony where the hosts block the guests while singing songs. The bride typically resides at her parents' house for a few months or even years. Silver jewelery is also passed onto the bride by her mother.
Birth
The birth of a child is complemented by the following events (Geary 2003):- The "stepping-over-the-threshold person," who is the first person to enter the home where the child has been born, will influence the child's future personality and success.
- Neighbors are invited and bring food and gifts.
- Announcing the birth to the mother's family
- Visit from the female relatives on the third day or so, and gifts are brought
- Homage expressed to the land god for the birth of a male child (practiced by the Northern Dong)
- Building a "bridge" - Three wooden planks are lined up side-by-side in order to express goodwill to passing people.
- Wrapping the hands - The child's hands are wrapped to help prevent the child from stealing things later on in life.
- First haircut at one month old
- First eating of fermented rice at about one month old
- First eating of meat dipped in wine at six months old - considered a major milestone
Funerals
Like those of the Miao peopleMiao people
The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong...
, Dong funerals are highly elaborate. People who died from unnatural causes (i.e., accidents) are cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
, while those who died from natural causes are buried (Geary 2003:102-103). Burials consists of the following phases (Geary 2003):
- Receiving the breath - listening for last word's and the person's the last breath
- Drinking clear tea - Three spoonfuls of "clear tea" and a small pieces of silver are placed into the recently deceased person's mouth.
- Buying water for washing the corpse
- "Washing" the corpse - The corpse is covered with wet money paper.
- Putting on the graveclothes - Old clothes are taken off.
- Arranging the "dream bed" - The suonaSuonaThe suona ; also called laba or haidi is a Han Chinese shawm . It has a distinctively loud and high-pitched sound, and is used frequently in Chinese traditional music ensembles, particularly those that perform outdoors...
is played during the vigil. - Starting on the road - A red cock is killed, and the corpse is removed from the dream bed and placed into a coffin. White headcloths are worn by the mourners (also practiced by the Han Chinese).
- Digging the "well" (grave)
- Holding the memorial ceremony - Presents are distributed.
- Going up the mountain - Coffins are usually placed high up on a mountainside.
- Placing the coffin into the "well" - A chicken is killed and prayers are said. The chicken is then lowered into the grave, and pulled back out again for later consumption.
- Holding the funeral receptions - Lunch and dinner are held.
- Returning to the mountain - The sons return to the grave to build a grave-mound. The dead person is called to "go back home" to live at the altar the family's ancestors.
- "Transferring the sons" (if the dead is female) - This is a ceremony in which the duties of filial pietyFilial pietyIn Confucian ideals, filial piety is one of the virtues to be held above all else: a respect for the parents and ancestors. The Confucian classic Xiao Jing or Classic of Xiào, thought to be written around 470 BCE, has historically been the authoritative source on the Confucian tenet of xiào /...
are transferred from the deceased mother to her eldest brother or the eldest brother's representative.
Environment
An average-sized Dong village has 200-300 homes, although the smallest ones have only 10-20 and the largest ones have more than 1,000 (Geary 2003:43). Dong villages typically have:- Ganlan-style wooden houses (stilt houses)
- Ancient and sacred trees
- Covered ("Wind-and-rain") bridges
- Wayside pavilions with wooden or stone benches
- Bullfighting arenas, which are fields
- Wells surrounded by stone rims and usually dug near trees
- Fish-ponds, traditionally communally-owned
- Racks for drying grain and granaries
- Village entrances - to protect against intruders, and also are where "blocking the way" ceremonies are located
- Drum towers - usually found only in southern Dong areas today. Drum towers may be village towers or extended-family towers (Geary 2003:47).
- Altars to Sa Sui, the main deity of the Dong pantheon
Popular scenic spots in Dong-speaking territories are the Jiudong region, Liudong region, Chengyang village, Pingdeng region, and Yuping region.
Agriculture and economy
The Dong people cultivate dozens of varieties of glutinous rice (known locally as "Kam" or "good" rice). The Han Chinese cultivate non-glutinous rice, which is called "Han (Chinese) rice" by the Dong (Geary 2003:114). Supplementary foods inclusive maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
, various vegetables, plums, peaches, pears, mushrooms, mandarin orange
Mandarin orange
The orange, also known as the ' or mandarine , is a small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads...
s, pomelo
Pomelo
The pomelo is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It is usually pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white flesh and very thick albedo . It is the largest citrus fruit, 15–25 cm in diameter, and usually weighing 1–2 kg...
s, and watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
s. Cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
is also cultivated for textile production. Generally the Dong occupy lower-lying land than the Miao
Miao people
The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong...
, and are thus wealthier than them.
Animals frequently raised by the Dong people include (Geary 2003):
- Water buffaloes: 1-3 per household
- Pigs: 1-3 per household
- Dog: not very popular, but sometimes used to clean up excrement and rubbish. In some areas, however, hunting dogs are raised.
- Chickens: 2-20 per household. Hens raised by the Dong generally lay around 100 eggs per year.
- Ducks: 2-4 per household (about half of all households). Ducks tend to destroy rice seedlings, and are thus less preferable than chickens.
- Geese: 2-4 per household (about one-tenth of all households). They are recent introductions from the Han Chinese.
- Fish: raised in fish-ponds, and sometimes hunted
The "four pillars" of Dong cuisine are glutinous rice
Glutinous rice
Glutinous rice is a type of short-grained Asian rice that is especially sticky when cooked. It is called glutinous Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa or Oryza glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice, and pulut) is a...
, sour (pickled) food, hot pepper, and rice wine
Rice wine
Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage made from rice. Unlike wine, which is made by fermentation of naturally sweet grapes and other fruit, rice "wine" results from the fermentation of rice starch converted to sugars...
(Geary 2003). Other popular local dishes and condiments include barbecued fish, intestines sauce, purple blood pork, chicken-blood sauce, oil tea, gongguo (glutinous rice snack sweetened with liana) and bianmi (another glutinous rice snack). Also, the giant salamander is a rare local specialty. Two hot meals (breakfast and dinner) and one cold meal (lunch) are served everyday.
The Dong-speaking area is famous for its fir wood. Fir wood from the Dong area has been used to build the ships of 15th-century explorer Zheng He
Zheng He
Zheng He , also known as Ma Sanbao and Hajji Mahmud Shamsuddin was a Hui-Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral, who commanded voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, collectively referred to as the Voyages of Zheng He or Voyages of Cheng Ho from...
and the Great Hall of the People
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It functions as the People's Republic of China's...
. Major economic activities include carpentry and the manufacture of silverwork and wickerwork. Baskets and other wickerwork are usually made by men. Baskets can be made from five types of plant materials, namely glutinous rice
Glutinous rice
Glutinous rice is a type of short-grained Asian rice that is especially sticky when cooked. It is called glutinous Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa or Oryza glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice, and pulut) is a...
straw, cogongrass, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
grass, bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
, and rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
(Geary 2003:146-147).
In recent years, tourism has also become a major source of income for the Dong people (Geary 2003).
Festivals
Below is a list of traditional Dong festivals (Geary 2003:184-213).Two new year festivals
- Dong/Kam New Year
- Chinese New YearChinese New YearChinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
One-day long work-related festivals, where chicken, fish, and glutinous rice
Glutinous rice
Glutinous rice is a type of short-grained Asian rice that is especially sticky when cooked. It is called glutinous Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa or Oryza glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice, and pulut) is a...
are eaten.
- Sowing seeds
- Planting cotton
- Washing water buffaloes
- Eating new rice
There are a total of four different harvest festivals which last 1–3 days.
- Mid-Autumn FestivalMid-Autumn FestivalThe Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
- Pumpkin Day
- LushengLushengThe lusheng is a Chinese musical instrument with multiple bamboo pipes, each fitted with a free reed, which are fitted into a long blowing tube made of hardwood. It most often has five or six pipes of different pitches, and is thus a polyphonic instrument...
Day - Cultivating new land
Singing festivals
- Commemoration of lovers killed by lightning
- Gaoba Singing Festival
Remembrance festivals
- Girls' Day
- King Lin's Day - commemorates Lin Kuan, a northern Dong hero of the 1300s
- A Dianlong Day
- Jiaxu Day
- Best Weather Day - Jiang Yingfang, the "Robin HoodRobin HoodRobin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
" of the Dong people who led a rebellion in the 1800s, is celebrated on this day.
Miscellaneous festivals
- Tidying the graves (tomb sweeping)
- Sweet rice cakes festival
- Fireworks Day
- Dragon Boat FestivalDragon Boat FestivalDuanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Fifth, is a traditional and statutory holiday originating in China and associated with a number of East Asian and Southeast Asian societies...
- Zongba Festival (Zongba is a type of dumplingDumplingDumplings are cooked balls of dough. They are based on flour, potatoes or bread, and may include meat, fish, vegetables, or sweets. They may be cooked by boiling, steaming, simmering, frying, or baking. They may have a filling, or there may be other ingredients mixed into the dough. Dumplings may...
made from glutinous riceGlutinous riceGlutinous rice is a type of short-grained Asian rice that is especially sticky when cooked. It is called glutinous Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa or Oryza glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice, waxy rice, botan rice, biroin chal, mochi rice, and pearl rice, and pulut) is a...
.) - Bull intestines eating festival
Bullfighting
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
is also historically popular among the Dong people (Geary 2003:199).
Religion
The Dong people are traditionally polytheistic with many elements of animismAnimism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
(Geary 2003). Totems include turtles, snakes, and dragons, and worshipped ancestors include the mythical figures of Song Sang, Song En, Zhang Liang, and Zhang Mei (Geary 2003:149-151). The Dong people also use rice grains, bamboo roots, snails, and chicken bone, eyes, blood, and eggs for divination. Today, Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, and to a lesser extent Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
are also practiced by the Dong people.
Spirits and deities
Some deities and sacred natural phenomena are also listed below (Geary 2003:155-164).- Sa Ma Qing Sui, or Sa Sui, is the most important deity in Dong mythology. Sa Sui is a female deity who may have originally been a land goddess.
- Village enrtrance goddess
- Bridge goddess
- Land gods and goddesses
- Three family prosperity gods
- A love deity actually consisting of five male gods
- Banishing-evil god
- Spirit of the sky and earth
- Sun and moon worship (derived from Chinese religion)
- Thunder and lightning
- Mountains
- Rivers and streams
- Wells
- Two fire spirits: one good and one evil
- Large stones and boulders
- "Wind-and-water trees" (i.e., trees with magic qualities) and ancient evergreen trees
- Water buffalo spirits
- Rice seedling spirits
- Fruit tree spirits
Snakes are also highly revered, and are often thought to have been the progenitors of the ancient Baiyue peoples, which included the Dong (Geary 2003:149). The original two founders of the Dong people, Zhang Liang and Zhang Mei, are often called upon to help with illnesses and disasters.
Taboos and superstitions
Traditional Dong religion also makes use of many taboos, omens, and fetishes. The fetishes are usually plant parts such as tree branches, reeds, leaves, and roots. Some of the taboos and superstitions are listed below (Geary 2003:174-178).- Not marrying on the Chinese Year of the Tiger, since tigers must wait around nine years before giving birth to their first cubs
- Pregnant women cannot participate in marriage ceremonies or arrangements, visit sick acquaintances, or sacrifice to gods.
- Women cannot give birth in their mothers' home. There are also many other childbirth-related taboos and superstitions.
- Children cannot have haircuts before the age of one month old. The locks of hair from the first haircut must also be stored away and not be disposed of.
- Coffins cannot have any metal objects inside them, since departed souls fear metal objects, especially copper.
- Corpses should not be placed inside coffins during rainy weather. Names are also not to be called out when a corpse is being carried to its grave.
- Chopsticks should not be tapped on bowls, as this is reminiscent of beggars' behavior.
- The meat of crows or dead wild animals with unknown causes of death bring bad luck and should not be eaten.
- Unmarried men should not eat pig feet, since pigs have split hooves.
- New houses should not be built if a neighbor has recently died.
- Pregnant women should not watch new houses being built.
- Wood struck by lightning cannot be used for building houses.
- Main entrances of two houses should not directly face each other, or this will cause severe quarreling.
- It is best to move into new houses at night when the village is already asleep.
- Nothing should be bought on the first day of the Chinese New YearChinese New YearChinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, as this might cause materials to diminish for the new year. On this day, floors should not be swept, rubbish should not be thrown out, friends should not be visited, arguments should be avoided, and knives should not be used to cut food. - The lushengLushengThe lusheng is a Chinese musical instrument with multiple bamboo pipes, each fitted with a free reed, which are fitted into a long blowing tube made of hardwood. It most often has five or six pipes of different pitches, and is thus a polyphonic instrument...
should not be played between the sowing and transplanting of rice seedlings, since it could attract plagues of insects. - Meeting a pregnant woman while hunting is considered bad luck.
- While hunting, the names of animals should not be shouted so that the mountain god would not be aroused to protect the animals.
- Fish swimming upstream are protected by the gods, and catching one of them will result in bad luck.
- Leaving home on the 7th, 17th, or 27th day of the month is unlucky. This custom is also practiced by the Chinese.
- A recently deceased person will rise up if a cat jumps over him. Therefore all domesticated animals must be kept away from them.
Magic and shamanism
Rituals involving supernatural elements include dragon dances, spring buffalo dances, and fire prevention ceremonies where ash is placed in boats and sent downstream. Sorcery can be performed in private. There are many purposes of sorcery, such as repelling evil spirits, recovering the soul of a disturbed child, exacting revenge on enemies, and inducing love. Voodoo dolls, borrowed from the Chinese, are made so that pins can be stuck onto them, with the person's name and birth date also written on them. The doll is then buried underground after being inserted into a clay pot (Geary 2003:172). White cocks can also be used for revenge sorcery.Shamanism
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...
is practiced by the Dong and bears many parallels with Miao
Miao people
The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong...
(Hmong) shamanism. One major duty of shamans is to recover the souls of sick people (Geary 2003:169).
Notable Dongs
- Li TingLi Ting (diver)Li Ting is a female diver from the People's Republic of China. She is a member of the Dong Chinese ethnic minority.Li started training in 1993 the second Chengguan primary school. She joined Guangxi Divers' School in 1994, and became a member of the provincial squad a year later...
(李婷), gold medalist in the 10 meter synchronized platform divingDivingDiving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
at the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
at AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... - Wu Hongfei (吴虹飞), singer for the Chinese rockChinese rockChinese Rock , occasionally referred as Mandorock or Cantorock depending on the language of the song in question, is commonly used to describe a wide variety of forms of rock and roll music, in connection with the rock bands...
band Happy AvenueHappy AvenueHappy Avenue is a Chinese rock band based in Beijing, China, founded in September 1999. Members include Wú Hóngfēi , Gěng Fàng , Lǐ Wéiyán , Zhōu Qí , and Tián Kūn...
(幸福大街) - Su YuSu YuSu Yu was a Chinese Communist military leader. He was considered by many to be among the best commanders of the PLA only next to Lin Biao and Liu Bocheng. Su Yu fought in the Sino-Japanese War and in the Chinese Civil War...
(粟裕), the first four-star general of the People's Liberation Army
Gallery
External links
- The Dong ethnic minority (government website in English)
- Zhèng Guóqiáo 郑国乔: Dòngyǔ jiǎngzuò 侗语讲座 (Lectures on the Dong language; in Chinese; pages are not correctly displayed in MozillaMozillaMozilla is a term used in a number of ways in relation to the Mozilla.org project and the Mozilla Foundation, their defunct commercial predecessor Netscape Communications Corporation, and their related application software....
) - National Geographic article about the Dong of Dimen, Liping County, Guizhou, by Amy TanAmy TanAmy Tan is an American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships. Her most well-known work is The Joy Luck Club, which has been translated into 35 languages...
(2008) - Photo of Dong lusheng (mouth organ) parade
- Dong Bible (Dong Bible 侗文圣经)
- Photos of Dong villages (website in Japanese)
- http://stevenqfrost.net/photoarchive/index.php?action=showthumbs&dir=zhaoxing (Steven Frost's photos of Zhaoxing)
- Sinicization: at the crossing of three China regions, an ethnic minority becoming increasingly more Chinese: the Kam People, officially called Dong People (in French)/ Sinisation: à la limite de trois provinces de Chine, une minorité de plus en plus chinoise: les locuteurs kam, officiellement appelés Dong, Jean BerlieJean BerlieJean Berlie is a French socio-anthropologist specialising in Asia and China.-Background:...
, 359 pages, Guy Trédaniel editor, Paris, France, published in 1998. - Sinicization of the Kam (Dong People), a China minority (in French)/ Sinisation d'une minorité de Chine, les Kam (Dong), Jean BerlieJean BerlieJean Berlie is a French socio-anthropologist specialising in Asia and China.-Background:...
, 95 pages, s.n. editor, published in 1994.
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