OTHER THEMES IN NE COLLECTION
agriculture
development
economics
environment
family life
gender
health
migration
social change

THEMES IN SW COLLECTION
agriculture
communications
community activities
culture and customs
development
economics
education
employment and income
environment
family life
food security
forestry
gender
health
history
identity
livestock
migration
population
social change
social relationships
spiritual beliefs
traditional skills
water

BACKGROUND
introducing the china collections

culture and customs in the northeast collection

 quotes
 key testimonies
 culture and customs in the southwest collection

Compared to some other testimony collections on this site, these interviews contain less material on culture, festivals and traditions. Several narrators mention the Spring festival and the yangge dance, a popular rural folk dance, but no one goes into significant detail. One woman (China 38, Suping) comments: "People here in the mountains are still feudal-minded, they feel embarrassed to dance in front of others. There are few cultural activities in the village." However, the village leader says that recently when they bought some "gongs and drums for the village", it was a big success: "That was right before the Spring Festival. Villagers used those instruments for yangge dancing. The whole village became full of life. Even those who used to play mahjong (popular Chinese board game) came out to dance. Old and young, adults or children, everyone enjoyed themselves" (China 30). The residents of Huanglongsi also invite a troupe of actors and actresses from outside to perform operas during the Spring Festival.

Two narrators (39 and 36) talk briefly about birth and wedding customs respectively. And a few mention the traditional skills of embroidery, and making the "tiger shoes" commonly found on babies' feet in rural China. Made of cloth, with a tiger's head on the toe caps, they are believed to protect children from harm. Several narrators say people used to go and watch films in other villages but this has declined with the increase of TV ownership. One woman suggests that people have little leisure time: "Very few [people play mahjong]. Some play during the days of the Spring Festival. People in Wanxian county which lies to the east of our village often play mahjong. But people in our village don't have time; they work to earn more money" (China 33).

There are several Buddhist temples in Huanglongsi and most of the narrators are asked whether they take part in temple activities. Some narrators do participate, but others express scepticism that people who go to the temples are truly committed to the beliefs of Buddhism. They suggest that many just like taking part in activities such as burning incense. Despite some narrators' scepticism, it seems that people in the village raised funds for a temple which was constructed three years ago.

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quotes about culture and customs

"They began…the operas as soon as the temples had been completed. We watched operas during three successive Spring Festivals… No one dances in our village. We always invite a theatrical troupe to our place. A troupe called Wangdu County Theatrical Troupe from somewhere in Qingyuan county… People in our village [pay them]. Those who are well-to-do often give more money. Those who are poor give less. [The troupe] have free meals in the village…breakfast, lunch and supper."
Cuiying, F/41, China 33

"People in Wan county can do embroidery. And they also export those products. But some women in my village can only embroider pillows, door screens for themselves, they never sell them. My older son's wife can do embroidery also."
Sumei, F/62, China 36

"Now few films are shown here, because every family has a TV set. When we wanted to see films, at that time we had to walk 7 or 8 li (2 li = 1 km) to Wanxian county if we wanted to see a film. We had to scramble up the hills. Now no one would take the trouble."
Cuiying, F/41, China 33

"I ask [the gods] to bless and protect people in the village. Call it superstition, but it is a good feeling to keep the faith… I pray to them for peace and calm. I'm not particular about saying certain words."
Cuiying, F/41, China 33

"The family of bridegroom steam the big baozi (a bun weighing 1 jin, equivalent to 0.5 kg). If you have relatives in the bride's family you should present baozi with the word xi (happy) on it. Some people steam 60; some people steam 10. We steamed 60 buns when my son was married. I presented some to his wife's family and I kept some for ourselves. I also presented some to my relatives, such as my brother, my uncle; to them I gave one or two."
Sumei, F/62, China 36

"Y: Here relatives will present certain food to the family that has a new baby…
C: Usually people would buy a few jin (1 jin, equivalent to 0.5 kg) of dried noodles or brown sugar, or a piece of cloth to the family to show their congratulations. That's the custom passed on from old times…
C: Mostly relatives [will give presents]…Neighbours and other people are not obliged to do so…People do not give presents for the new baby on the fourth or sixth days, to avoid the disease taboo of umbilical tetanus which usually happens on the fourth or sixth days. After the sixth day, any time will do…
C: Of course there is no connection between the visits of relatives and the disease. But we have this taboo."
Qiaoyun, F/65; Youngchun, M/74, China 39

"No one really believes in Buddhism, but there are people who burn joss sticks. There is a temple down there and every first and 15th days of the lunar month there will be people in the temple to burn joss sticks."
Diao'er, F/28, China 38

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