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Characteristics of Ethnic Minorities in Taiwan Province Province
The ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province have been living on a treasure island with high mountains and deep valleys and surrounded by the sea, and have experienced a very long history. The ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province are divided into more than ten ethnic groups. After a long period of reproduction, the differences of customs and habits of various ethnic groups gradually emerged, and the uniqueness of culture also formed. At present, 14 ethnic groups have their own languages and cultures, with a total population of about 500,000 people, including Yami (Dawu), Ami, Kalmalan, Sacile Ya, Penang, Taroko, Atayal, Shao, Bunun, Saidek, Zou, Rukai and Paiwan. Therefore, Taiwan Province Province has become a "paradise for anthropologists to study".

● May

Ami is the largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province, with nearly 6.5438+0.9 million people, accounting for about 2/5 of the total population of ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province. Amei takes fishing and farming as the main modes of production. They are kind and cheerful by nature and are famous for their colorful song and dance culture in Taiwan Province Province. Ah Mui's residential area starts from Hualien in the north and reaches the east of the peninsula in the south, with a vast territory. According to the different distribution areas, it is divided into five communities from south to north: Hengchun Ami, Taitung Ami, Coastal Ami, Xiuguluan Ami and Heather Ami.

May means northerners. The Ami nationality has a unique matriarchal social system, in which men adopt the adoption system, family property is inherited by their daughters, and the housework power is in the hands of women, and men are responsible for the male gathering place with tribal public affairs as the core. Men's meeting places have strict age stages. Ami men were sent to youth clubs for training at the age of 13, and passed the physical fitness test every three years. They won't get married until they are 22. Men are also responsible for tribal defense and public service. Old people who contribute to the public affairs of the tribe and are exempted from labor will become respected tribal elders in the tribe. The strict matriarchal social system of Ami tribe balances the rights of men and women and creates harmonious social relations within the tribe.

Ami people are surrounded by mountains and waters, and are rich in natural resources. According to the different seasons of farming, fishing and hunting, people hold festivals at the age of 20. In the early days, the Ami people had a series of rituals related to farming, including: sowing sacrifices, ancestor sacrifices after sowing, weeding sacrifices, harvesting sacrifices, new grain storage sacrifices, new rice tasting sacrifices, harvest sacrifices, rain-seeking sacrifices and sunshine sacrifices. With the change of the times and the decline of tribal agricultural production, only the Harvest Festival held from July to 10 and the sea sacrifice held by coastal tribes are important ceremonies for Ah Mui to inherit national culture.

● paiwan

Paiwan is the second largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province, mainly distributed in Pingtung County and Taitung County. According to the different distribution areas, it can be divided into four communities: Beipai Bay, Zhongpai Bay, Nanpai Bay and Dongpai Bay.

Paiwan refers to the place where ancestors originally originated. According to the historical legend of paiwan, the birth of human beings came from three ways: the sun, snakes and clay pots. One is the "sun theory", which holds that human beings are hatched from eggs under the sun; The second is the theory of "pot life", which holds that the sun shines on the clay pot, which breaks it and gives birth to the ancestor of mankind; The third is the "Hundred Steps Snake Theory", which holds that human beings are hatched from the eggs of the Hundred Steps Snake. However, regardless of the legendary origin of human beings, paiwan people are full of reverence for snakes.

Paiwan people traditionally make a living by hunting and farming, and their clan system is the most typical aristocratic society of ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province. The territory of a tribe belongs to one or more leaders, and the leaders have the obligation to support widows and orphans and provide emergency assistance, because they have to levy taxes on civilians. Within the clan, the long-term heir system is implemented, and the long-term heir of the leader's family inherits the position of hereditary leader. The remaining children will become civilians after three generations if they have no chance to marry other leaders. However, leaders cannot interfere in the affairs of the tribal public, but are autonomous by the civilian class. Therefore, regardless of class or rank, tribal members elect elders or sages to form tribal meetings, and select capable people as administrative leaders. Although the leader is a landlord handed down from generation to generation, the actual public affairs of the tribe are managed by people elected by the civilians themselves.

At the age of 20, paiwan held different festivals according to the changes of seasons. The Five-Year Sacrifice, the most prestigious and rigorous ceremony in paiwan, lasted for six months from welcoming God to the end of the final funeral ceremony. With the changes of the times, at present, this kind of ceremony can only be seen in Laiyi Township, Chunri Township in Pingtung County and Daren Local Board Tribe in Taitung County.

● Taiya

The Atayal people's settlement extends northward from Zhuoshuixi in Nantou County to Heping River in Yilan County, occupying the widest mountainous area in Taiwan Province Province and being the third largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province. Taya means people like you. The Atayal people are divided into two sub-tribes, Sekolek and Zeaolie, which call themselves Xitai in the upper reaches of Beigangxi in Nantou County. It is said that in ancient times without human beings, the huge rock on the ground suddenly cracked and two men and one woman came out of the gap. One of the men returned to the rock, and the remaining two men and women became husband and wife, thus giving birth to the Atayal. Today, this huge stone still stands beside Beigang Creek, becoming a sacred place for Atayal people, and people call it Binsbugan. According to legend, Bayan was the first tribe founded by ancestors, and it is very close to Binsbugan scenic spot. Later, due to the continuous expansion of the tribal population, people went up the Beigang River and crossed the central mountain range. After thousands of years of migration, today's Atayal settlements are all over the vast land from the north of Nantou to Yilan.

The clan system of Taiya is a patriarchal society, with hunting and fire ploughing as the main modes of production, simple and primitive culture, no complicated political and social organizations, and only a * * * sacrificial group called "Gaga". Tribes hold different new year's ceremonies according to the seasonal cycle. Every year in September and June, 65438+ 10, Jakob tribe in Thailand holds an important ceremony of Jia Jia Zuling.

Tattooing is a symbol of Atayal national spirit, and both men and women have the custom of tattooing in adulthood. Only when girls are proficient in knitting skills can they get married with tattoos. Men must learn to hunt and go out to fight before they can get married. In Taiya's family, as long as the children get married, they have to move out and set up another door, leaving only the youngest son to take care of their elderly parents at home. Such a social system has created the Atayal men's character of daring to leave their homes and expand their territory, which is also the reason why this ethnic group is widely distributed.

● Bunon

Bunon means people. Bunun ethnic group is divided into five ethnic groups according to different clans: Luanshe, Kashe, Danshe, Zhuoshe and Xianshe, which is the fourth largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province.

Bunun people have no hereditary ruling class, only life-long leaders elected by his people. There are two kinds of leaders: one is a tribal chief, who is the guardian of tribal traditional customs, presides over tribal meetings attended by elders and heads of households of various clans, and carries out the resolutions of the meetings, usually priests of various festivals; The other is the military leader of the tribe, who is an elder with meritorious military service, foresight and even familiarity with good and bad luck. Once elected, it is a lifelong position, and the son has no right to succeed.

Bunun is a typical patriarchal social family. A family usually lives in a family, with the oldest grandfather or great-uncle as parents. Even after marriage, uncles and granduncles are still separated. Each couple is assigned a bedroom to live in the house, and all families work together. If there is a separation, it is usually after grandpa's death that uncles can preside over the separation.

"Eight-voice chorus" is the most representative musical expression of Bunun nationality. It consists of eight different scales, the content of which is to pray for a bumper harvest of millet, also called "Millet Harvest Song". The "Kua Gong Banquet" is a celebration banquet where relatives and friends gather together, and everyone, regardless of sex, takes turns to go to the central government, loudly announce their names, list their outstanding performances in the past year, and publicly boast about their achievements. This is also the most distinctive cultural custom of Bunun nationality.

Bunong is the only ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province that has its own writing-"Lunar Map". They farm and hunt according to the calendar all year round. Many festivals are attached to agricultural ceremonies, such as the ceremony of shooting ears and sowing millet. These are important ceremonies for the Bunun people when they are 20 years old.

● Taroko Pavilion

Taroko, originating from ancient Sedeke, is the fifth largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province. The ancestors of Taroko people lived in the source (South Head) of the turbid water stream on the west side of He Huan. Legend has it that 400 years ago, because of hunting, their ancestors crossed the central mountains to the source of Liwu River (Hualien), and the people who migrated here finally established a new tribe along the Liwu River basin. The Taroko War broke out in 19 14, and the Wushe incident broke out in 1933, which made the Japanese colonists tremble with fear. In order to prevent the resistance of ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province, they began to implement the so-called "moving down the mountain" policy, and they forced Taroko people living in Liwuxi Valley to move down the mountain one after another, forming the residence of Taroko people today. The area where Taroko people once lived has now become a famous tourist attraction-Taroko National Park.

Taroko Pavilion refers to the platform or habitable place on the mountainside. Taroko people are a traditional hunting and burning people. Like Atayal people, both men and women have the custom of tattooing when they grow up. Traditional social organizations are composed of members, who elect smart and upright people as leaders, represent the tribes externally, maintain the peace and harmony of the tribes internally and arbitrate disputes. Every tribe has a fixed hunting area, and protecting the hunting area is the common responsibility of all tribal members, thus forming a group consciousness that tribal men share the responsibility.

Taroko people's belief is a collective consciousness centered on ancestral spirits. Witchcraft medicine and priest prayer are important traditional customs of this tribe. Taroko people believe that all diseases and disasters are caused by ghosts and gods punishing and offending ancestors, so they must be solved through ancestor worship, and the ceremony symbolizes communication with ancestors. In order to ensure that the custom (Gaya) is truly observed by the tribesmen, there are three positions in the tribe: leader, priest and wizard, which have different powers to supervise the tribesmen to observe the custom. Every autumn and winter, Taroko people will follow the instructions of their ancestors and hold thanksgiving sacrifices to repay their protection.

● Rukai

Lu Kai is the sixth largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province. They are divided into three communities according to their different places of residence. Among them, the largest number are the Xiluke Group living in Wutai Township, Pingtung County, the Dongluke Group living in Beinan Township and Jinfeng Township, and the Dona, Wanshan and Maolin Societies living in Maolin Township, Kaohsiung County. These communities don't communicate with each other, and their languages are self-contained.

The word "Rukai" means people who live in deep mountains. Lu Kai and paiwan belong to the hereditary society of the aristocratic class, and the cultural customs of the two nationalities are very similar. The difference is that paiwan is the eldest son (eldest son or eldest daughter) to inherit the family business, while Lu Kai is the eldest son inheritance system. Leaders have no right to ask about public affairs, but only act as the final arbiter or mediator. Tribal public affairs are decided by the immediate elders of each clan, respected people and warriors with outstanding achievements, and the civilian class also has the right to participate in public affairs.

Rukai was born conservative, respected the authority of leaders, and emphasized the strict distinction between social classes, nobles and civilians. In the past, nobles and leaders had exclusive rights to dress patterns and decorations, and civilians were not allowed to use head patterns, snakes, lilies and pottery pots unless the leaders agreed. Besides, like paiwan in Lu Kai, only nobles can wear hats with vulture feathers. In number, there are three leaders, two core aristocrats and one marginal aristocrat. Lily represents social order and ethics, and only pure girls and noble warriors are qualified to wear it. These strict etiquette and ceremonies strictly restrict the life and education of the people, making them attach great importance to mutual assistance and unity.

Millet Harvest Festival in August, Harvest Festival and Black Millet Festival of Dona tribe in Maolin Township in June 5438+065438+ 10 are grand festivals held by the tribe according to the season and life cycle.

● Pei Nan

People from North and South mainly live in Taitung Plain. At present, there are eight tribes with a long history, namely Zhiben, Shemagan (Jianhe), Lujiawang (Li Jia), Dabaliujiu (Tai 'an), Beinan (Wang Nan), Areca, Alibai and Chulu (North Four Banners), also known as the Eight Clubs, and recently Baosang and Banban have been added.

North South is the old place name of Puyuma, a tribe in Wang Nan. There are many legends about the origin of Peinan, mainly the "bamboo legend" derived from the bamboo led by Peinan Society and the "stone legend" derived from the stone of Zhiben Society which landed in the Pacific Ocean.

There is a strict club system in north and south, and the "club" has carried out strict Spartak education for young people in history. The clubhouse is not only a place for Peinan people to hold ceremonies, but also a place for training young people. It is divided into youth clubs and youth clubs. When men reach the age of 13, they will leave home and go to the youth club for training, which will be strictly trained by adult soldiers; After reaching the age of 18, he will be promoted to serve in the YMCA to defend and kill the enemy; You can only retire, get married and have children at the age of 22; After the age of 35, you can participate in the discussion of tribal affairs in the club; After entering the age of 50, he became a respected club consultant or tribal elder. Learning obedience and patience in the clubhouse since childhood, carrying out hard training and cultivating the spirit of hardship and courage have created the brave character and spirit of Peinan men.

Although there is a matriarchal society in which men adopt sons and wives and daughters inherit the family business, women's rights do not involve all aspects. There is still a division of labor between men and women within the clan, and women's rights are limited to housework. If a married woman wants to dispose of her property, she must get the consent of both husband and wife. The big hunting festival held in 65438+February every year is the most important annual festival for all ethnic groups.

● Zou

Zou, the ninth ethnic minority in Taiwan Province Province, is divided into three sub-ethnic groups that use different languages according to different living areas. They live in Alishan, Chiayi County in northern Zou Qun, Kaohsiung County in southern Zou Qun and Kanakanabu Group.

Zou is a farming, animal husbandry and hunting nation with fatherhood as its core values. Its tribal organization is centered on Kuba Society. A large society is a first-class family where all clans live, and a small society is an ordinary family divided by all clans. Every big club has a hereditary leader, and all clan affairs are presided over by the oldest person in each clan.

Kuba is a special place where clan people gather and a holy place for Zou people. In the past, when men were just weak, they had to leave home and go to Kuba for training in culture, history, skills and hunting, so as to become warriors to defend the tribe. The meeting place is the political center of the big club. Tribal affairs are discussed and decided by hereditary leaders and clan elders at the meeting. It is also the place where soldiers are trained and commanded, and it is strictly forbidden for women to enter. At present, there are only two big clubs, Yudabang and Tefuye.

Zou's custom of "service marriage" is the most distinctive among traditional customs. After marriage, the man should work in the woman's house for more than three years as a bride price. The length of the son-in-law's service period has been negotiated by both parents before marriage. War sacrifice is a traditional sacrifice of Zou nationality. The most important significance of war sacrifice is to encourage Zou people to use all their energy and life to protect the tribe and pray for the blessing of the god of war. From the ritual process and songs and dances of festivals, it can be found that Zou people have clearly arranged the order of the relationship between people and gods and between people. At the same time, festivals are also a major pillar to maintain tribal ethics, norms, spirit and combat effectiveness. The war sacrifice is held in Dabang Society and Tefuye Society in turn every year, and the sacrifice ceremony is generally arranged around February 15 in the solar calendar. It is also an important festival for Zou people to continue their cultural heritage.

● Sedek

Sedeke, which means "real person", has been listed as a sub-ethnic group of Atayal since the Japanese occupied Taiwan Province Province, and it was not recognized as the 14 ethnic group of ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province until April 2008.

Sedek nationality originated from the upper reaches of Zhuoshui River in Renai Township, Nantou, and is divided into three earliest ethnic groups: Decta Ya, Duda and Taroko. In the18th century, due to the increase of population and the shortage of land, some people from these three communities crossed the central mountain range and moved to Hualien County, forming Xisaideke, who lived in Renai Township, Nantou, and Dongsaideke, who lived in Lin Xiu, Wanrong and Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County. Each local ethnic group is divided into three communities, with a total of six communities. Among them, the eastern Kedulugu group was classified as Taroko ethnic group in 2004.

The traditional lifestyle and customs of Sedeke people attach importance to the division of labor between men and women, and there are also traditional customs such as tattooing rite of passage and strictly observing the taboos of ancestors. Tribes are the most basic autonomous units and belong to an equal rights society without hereditary leaders. A strong leader is a tribal leader, and a brave man is also the leader of hunting and weeding. When a tribe has something important, it is decided by the Council of Elders. Tribal organizations have the function of protection internally and the responsibility of keeping in touch with other tribes externally. They are a group that benefits from regional alliances.

There is another "Gaga" group in Sedeke, which is similar to the Atayal people. They both believe in religion and support each other, but Sedeke calls it "Gaya". Almost all Gaia members of Sedek belong to the same tribe, and there are few cross-tribal situations like Taiya. Members of the same Gaia have the obligation to collectively engage in sacrifices, assist in revenge and share rewards. Gaia can also be interpreted as the customary law or traditional taboo of the tribe.

● Xia Sai

Xia Sai means people. Xia Sai ethnic group lives in Wufeng Township of Hsinchu County, Nanzhuang Township and Shitan Township of Miaoli County, and is the tenth largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province. According to Xia Sai's oral history, ancestors came down from the birthplace of Dabajian Mountain in Ubinan Buon and migrated around along the stream. About 400 years ago, there were Xia Sai tribes in Taoyuan in the north and Miaoli in the south and by the sea. Later, because the Atayal ancestors went north along the central mountain range and occupied the deep mountain hunting ground of Xia Sai people, the population of Xia Sai decreased rapidly because of the war, and the double attack of Han immigrants from the plains. According to the population statistics of 1906, there are only 737 people left in Xia Sai. During the Guangxu period of Qing Dynasty, the large-scale migration of Han nationality forced Xia Sai people to move to their current residence.

Xia Sai has a strict patriarchal society, and the social organization of surnames is very strict. Major issues within the clan are decided by the elders of each clan. This clan system is called "Presbyterian system". The oldest man is the elder of the family, and the status of women is low. Widows or divorced women must return to their parents' homes, and the children of divorced women belong to their husbands' families. Historically, once Xia Sai's daughter married a lowland, she lost her racial identity. Even if she comes back in the future, she can't eat or live with people of her race.

When Xia Sai was 18 years old, each surname family was in charge of different festivals, such as short spirit sacrifice, praying to heaven sacrifice, ancestral spirit sacrifice, enemy head sacrifice and so on. , are held by Xia Sai people in accordance with the traditions handed down by their ancestors and New Year's ceremonies. Because it is rarely influenced by foreign religions, the festival still retains the ancestral taboos and witchcraft in the original mode, so it is also the most traditional and complete ritual activity in ethnic festivals, Taiwan Province Province.

● Yamei (Dawu)

Yamei, now also called Dawu, is the most typical marine ethnic group among the ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province, and it is also the only ethnic group that does not seek headhunters or drink alcohol. They live in Lan Yu Island in the east of Taiwan Province Province and are divided into six tribes: Red Head, Fisherman, Coconut Oil, Dong Qing, Dao Lang and Yeyin. At present, it is the 1 1 ethnic group in Taiwan Province province.

Yamei, which means the north, also means some people. Yamei clan society is a patriarchal society with division of labor between men and women. Men are responsible for fishing, building houses and making tools, while women are responsible for weaving and farming. There is no leadership system. There are only two or three clans in a tribe, and the most direct elders of these clans become the heads of these clans. There are other leaders in the tribe, such as captains of various fishing groups and masters who are good at making various handicrafts. Are leaders with professional influence in the tribe.

Yamei's property is inherited by her son. After her parents died, the building materials of her house were demolished and divided equally among her brothers. But the eldest son can get the land of the old house and the symbolic roof beam, and the daughter can get the mother's personal belongings at most. However, the status of elegant women is not low, on the contrary, they have more rights than other ethnic minorities who prefer boys to girls. For example, women are free to marry other tribes, while men can only find marriage partners in their own tribes.

Lan Yu Island is surrounded by the sea and is rich in marine resources, forming a unique marine culture. The underground house they live in is the most traditional architectural form in Yamei, mainly made of stone and wood. Yamei's understanding of fish is the highest among the ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province, such as male fish, female fish, and old fish whose father fasted while he was alive. Many ceremonies and customs are held with different fish seasons, such as crab festival, millet harvest festival and flying fish season held from March to August every year, which are all important ceremonies of Yamei people. 10 The launching ceremony of the new boat after the completion of the jigsaw puzzle boat is the most attractive traditional cultural activity of Yamei people.

● Sachilaya

Saqilaiya, originally a branch of Ami, is called "Qilai Ami". Currently, it is the eighth largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province. Sachilaya means a real person. Hualien, once called Chilai in ancient times, comes from the homonym claimed by Sachilaya people. Sacile Ya was first known. It was in the fifth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1632). 1878, Saqilaiya joined forces with Kamalan Kerry Bay Society and Zhuwo Bay Society to resist the official, and was defeated by the Qing army. Historically, it was called "Kerry Bay Incident". Since then, the whole family has been scattered all over Taiwan Province Province and started their 128.

Sachilaiya, the earliest resident of Hualien, has five main tribes, namely, the main tribe in Hualien City, the Ma Liyun tribe in Mizuho Township, the Shuilian tribe in Shoufeng Township, the Isozaki tribe in Fengbin Township and the Beipu tribe in Xincheng Township. Its language has its own system, which is different from all ethnic groups of Ami. Although the cultural customs of the two ethnic groups are similar, the biggest difference between them and Mei is that there is an incomplete matriarchal system within the clan, that is, men may still go home and get some land and property after being redundant.

Sachilaiya people hold new year's ceremonies with the change of seasons, which are divided into millet sowing, fishing, harvesting, collection and harvest festivals. In the rite of coming of age, elders will send meals, which is a ceremony for elders to bless minors and a unique tradition of Sachilaiya. After every coming-of-age ceremony, Sachilaya people ask new members of their age groups to plant a circle of bamboo thorns in the tribe, which symbolizes the protection of the tribe. Therefore, both the age class and the spiny bamboo are called "tribal fences".

In order to commemorate the ancestors who defended the tribe's sacrifice in the "Kerry Bay Incident", a hundred years later, the tribe mourned the ancestors' souls with the ceremony of "Balamar Vulcan Sacrifice", warning future generations to inherit the national spirit.

● Kamalan

Kamalan became a 1 1 ethnic group among the ethnic minorities in Taiwan Province Province in June 2002, with a slightly larger number than Shao. Kamalan, which means plain people, is the earliest resident of Yanglan Plain. 1632, Spain sent troops to attack Yilan to punish Gamalans for attacking ships stranded in the country. This ethnic group was only known to outsiders. 18 years later, the Dutch recorded the situation of 36 Kamalan tribes in Yanglan Plain of Taiwan Province. Due to years of war, this ethnic group finally moved to Hualien City. 1878 Kerry Bay incident led to people's exile again, scattered in Hualien and Taitung. At present, this ethnic group mainly lives in Jialiwan Tribe in Xincheng Township, Xinshe Tribe in Fengbin Township, Fengbin Tribe, Lide Tribe, Isozaki Tribe, Bird Tribe and Dafeng Tribe in Changbin Township, and a few ethnic groups also live in Liu Liu Tribe and Jialiwan Tribe in Dongshan Estuary of Yilan.

Kalmalan was a branch of Pingpu nationality in the early days. This nation is peaceful and likes cleanliness because it lives on the seashore. There is no class division within the clan, tribal priests are all women, and leaders are elected. Other public affairs in the tribe are divided and cooperated by people of all ages. In the family, women have the right of inheritance and ownership, and men must adopt their wives through adoption.

Kalmalan people are convinced that all things have spirits, and spirits can be divided into good spirits and evil spirits. Before the ceremony, a ceremony must be held. The most important and best-preserved ancestor worship ceremony is the Balu cult held at the end of the year, but it varies from region to region. Important festivals include the Ocean Festival held in March and April every year and the Harvest Festival held in August every year.

● Shao

Shao, the smallest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province, with only 603 people, was once classified as Zou, and 200 1 became the tenth largest ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province. In the past, it was scattered in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, and divided into six major clubs: Lu Shen, Maolan, Tiantou, Shuili, Meishe and Shuishe. At present, only the Yidashao tribe in Riyue Village (formerly known as Dehua Society), Dinglang Village and Dapinglin tribe in Shuili Township are left, belonging to the fishing and hunting ethnic group in Taiwan Province Province.

Idasho means that we are human beings. According to legend, Shao's ancestors stumbled upon this beautiful peach blossom garden in order to chase a white deer, so they moved to Sun Moon Lake and started a new life. This is the legendary story of Shao people fighting for deer.

The traditional social organization of Shao people is a patriarchal society composed of seven clans. The clan leader is the tribal leader, and it is hereditary. Tribal affairs adopt the clan division of labor system, and the leader of each clan is the oldest man in the clan. For example, the Senate and Elder Shi are tribal leaders, and Elder Mao is a general in foreign wars. This phenomenon that every clan has a fixed occupation is called clan division of labor by scholars.

Shao people hold year-old sacrifices with the changes of four seasons: hunting sacrifices, eel sacrifices, sowing sacrifices and ancestral sacrifices. Ancestor spirit is the core of Shao people's belief. Every household worships ancestral spirit baskets and puts clothes worn by ancestors of all ages. Ancestor spiritual sacrifices and various ceremonies are held every August 1 day of the lunar calendar. Ancestor priests are all women, who specialize in offering prayers and communicating with ancestors, and their status is respected. Sacrificing ancestors is the most important festival in people's year. In addition to offering sacrifices to the highest ancestors, there are activities to pray for family peace and harvest in the four seasons, and to hold a song and dance feast for the people to celebrate the New Year, including praying for the removal of filth, drumming and playing. In the past, adult teeth cutting ceremonies were held. This custom of respecting ancestral spirits and obeying ancestral teachings is an important ceremony to inherit culture and continue the essence of the nation.