Now, Shi Bi is the name given to the leader who organizes and hosts the sacrifice ceremony, and is believed to be from the heaven. In Qiang eyes, he can not only convey decrees from the heaven, but also cope with evil spirits. Therefore, he is also in charge of other ceremonies like the manhood ceremony, weddings and funerals and expelling calamities while bringing good fortune to the Qiang people. In daily life, Shi Bi also acts as a doctor or psychiatrist who cures diseases and consoles the patients. When big ceremonies are held in the stockade, Shi Bi is responsible for chanting the tales and epic poems of the Qiangs’ ancient culture in addition to hosting the ceremonies. So he is regarded as the most prestigious and knowledgeable person in the stockade.

The sacrifice ceremony is usually held in the forest near the stockade. At the ceremony, Shi Bi slaughters cows and sheep, sheds the blood on the sacrificial alter, lights a candle, and chants the religious scriptures from “Shang Tan Jing.” After the ceremony, the Qiang people bring the beef and mutton back, or roast it on the spot. They will also sing the multi-part song and perform ethical dance with wild pleasure to show gratitude to the gods, and celebrate the good harvest.  

Dance and sing—the celebration of good harvest 

The Qiang people are good at singing and dancing. Most of them are able to sing songs of their ethnic group. They sing whenever they can, during work, weddings and funerals. Festivals provide the best chance for singing and dancing. So when celebrating the Qiang's New Year, they sing and dance with wild joy.

The multi-part song of Qiang consists of 4 or more voice parts. It is sung by a group of male and female. The second voice part of the song functions as the most important element. The tune is performed from bass to treble. The singers will sing to the highest pitch and suddenly shift to a falling tune. The song can be performed by 2 to 8 persons, with no restriction of time and place. The song is simple and unsophisticated, yet is elegant and energetic in style, embodying the brave heroic personality and enterprising spirit of the Qiang People.