Various Festivals of the Yao Nationality
They dispatched a strong young soldier disguised as a vendor from the Yao ethnic group to the Yao village with a lot of daily-use necessities for sale, such as salt and cloth. He went to Fengjie's house to sell goods. When the latter found him to be one single man, just opened the door and welcomed him. However, the man suddenly took out his sword and stabbed at Fengjie. Almost simultaneously, awaiting government troops ambushed the village from outside. Seriously injured and unprepared for battle, Fengjie led the Yao armies to fight against the government troops in today's Shuidongping region for three days. Because they were outnumbered, all the 600 Yao people, including Fengjie, were slaughtered by the government troops.
The brave girl Fengjie lost her life in that battle; however, from then on, she has always lived in the hearts of all Yao people. After her death, people wanted to do something to commemorate this brave girl, but were afraid any such activities would bring suspicion and hate from the feudal rulers. As a result, they just came to Shuidongping area, gathered together and held various activities of their own ethnic features from May 15th to May 17th every year. During the three days, the young men and women would seek their lovers, dance and sing, through which they expressed their love and respect to the great heroine Fengjie. As time went on, this activity gradually became a traditional big festival of the Yao nationality for people to assemble as well as do some shopping.
Taoliaogui Festival
The name of this festival means escaping from ferocious and sinister evils. There are two phases to celebrate this festival. The first time is on July 2nd according to the local calendar in the Maole area; the Yao people living here begin to eat cucumbers and white melons after this day because of the following legend. At the end of the Song Dynasty, the ancestors of the Yao people who lived in Tianlu area of Jian city, Jiangxi Province were often exploited by the two local magistrates Zhao and Wang. On July 2nd, some pregnant women escaped to hide in the cucumber and white melon fields around Ejing Hill and avoided persecution from the government troops. After these Yao made a rule that from then on, only after July 2nd, could they and their descendants eat cucumbers and white melons. To do so, is taboo and considered bad luck. The second phase of this festival is from July 8th to July 10th. This time the festival is celebrated by the Yao people in Xiaoshajiang region. It is said that on the first year of Emperor Yongzheng's Reign (1723), six girls from four local Yao families were bullied and chased by one bad landlord causing a resistance. The landlord lied to the government and said that the girls wanted to start a rebellion. In addition, he asked the government to send troops to arrest the girls. The Yao people organized together and fought against the government troops in Dashajing and Xiaoshajiang areas; they retreated to Matang Mountains and guarded themselves with the help of the complicated local environment. At last, the government was forced to negotiate peace with the Yao people. The Yao people gave two nicknames Dashaguang and Xiaoshaguang for the two places where they had resisted the invading troops from the government. The two nicknames mean Big Slaughter Place and Small Slaughter Place. Later in order to promote the friendship and solidarity between the Yao nationality and other ethnic groups, they changed the names into Dashajiang and Xiaoshajiang. Nowadays during the festival, all the Yao people will dress up, gather together and hold various fun activities. Many other ethnic groups, including the Han, nearby also join them. People have parties, dances, and sing ballads. It is especially a good forum for young single men and women to seek their lovers. It is a very happy event and full of a festive and joyous atmosphere.
