Local Customs

Zhuang Nationality

Mainly known for agriculture, specializing in planting crops, the Zhuang minority is one of the most populous nationalities among the Chinese minorities. With a population of about 15,489,630, the Zhuang are mostly distributed thoughout Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Wenshan of Yunnan Province. Divided into south and north dialects, the Zhuang language belongs to the Zhuang and Dai branch of the Zhuang-Dong Ethnic Language, as part of the Han-Zhang language phylum. The Zhuang characters were created in accordance with Latin characters. The gathering of the folklore, music, dance, craft and skills of the Zhuang minority, resulted in the creation of these people’s own Zhuang Opera. The Atabal is a good example of the Zhuang Minority’s folk musical instruments.

The Zhuang Festivals

The Spring Festival

After the Sacrifice to the Kitchen God Ceremony, which is usually celebrated on the 23rd of December in the lunar calendar, people begin to prepare for the Spring Festival by killing pigs on the 27th, making glutinous rice dumplings on the 28th, and making glutinous rice cake on the 29th. On the eve of New Year’s, the most specialized dish amongst all the various sumptuous dishes is the large whole-cooked rooster, which can be seen on the table of every family. People drink sweet sticky rice wine, and eat dumplings without stuffing and cooked in a sugary soup. Then, after the second day of the New Year people often visit relatives and friends, paying new year’s calls to each other. They use glutinous rice cake, glutinous rice dumplings and sweet popcorn as gifts. The celebration of the Spring Festival doesn’t end until the fifteenth of the New Year, after the eating of the sticky rice balls. In some districts the festival can even last until the 30th of January.

The Third Day of March

In the past, during Tomb-Sweeping Day every family would prepare five-colored sticky rice, colored eggs which were offered as a sacrifice to the tombs of their ancestors, and they would also sweep and clean the graveyard. In accordance with the Zhuang traditions, the elderly people would preach the history and regulations handed down from their ancestors, which was followed by family picnics where folk songs were sung creating a lively atmosphere. Since the year 1940, this tradition has developed into an organized singing competition, which is more ceremonious and ardent. People have begun to become busy preparing for the singing competition as young fellows come to the singing spot to help put up the shed, and girls cover the shed with home-made knitting made of all kinds of black, white and blue dyed cloth. On the day of the singing competition, people of all ages bring five-colored rice and colored eggs, while singing songs and hurrying on to the singing field to compete and listen to the folk songs. These folk melodies include several different kinds such as love songs, cross-questioned songs, pan songs, agricultural songs and ancient songs, among others. Singers often edit and sing songs randomly following the request of the other side. As one song falls, another rises, and the whole spot is buzzes with excitement.

Traditions and Customs of the Zhuang Minority

The Zhuang people are very hospitable. In the past, the guest of any family living in a stockaded village was considered the guest of the whole stockaded village. Often the guests would be invited by several families to share in a dinner, sometimes during one meal the guest would have to eat with five or six families. They have the habit of visiting each other’s families as guests. For instance, if one family had killed a pig, they definitely would invite one member of every family in the village to come and eat a meal. There would have to be some wine on the table to convey the ceremonious atmosphere. Their toasting custom is known as “cup-cross drink”, which is in fact not done with a cup, but with a white spoon instead. When the guests arrived, the hosts would try their best to provide the best food and accommodations for the guests, and were especially enthusiastic to the elderly and new guests. The dinner would begin after the elderly were seated, as young people couldn’t eat dishes that hadn’t been tried by the elderly people. The tea and rice for the old people and guests would have to be handed by both hands, moreover it couldn’t be handed in front of or behind the back of the guests. People who had finished eating would be expected to say, “Enjoy your meal” to the elderly and guests in turns, and young people had to finish eating before everyone else had finished their meals. When one would come across an old person in the street, they would be expected to call the male “grandpa” and the female “ grandma” or “old grandma”. When one would come across guests or people carrying heavy things, they would give way to them, and actively help them carry their goods until they part. Killing animals on the first day of January in the lunar calendar is a taboo, just as in some areas young women should avoid eating beef and dog’s meat. During the first three days after a woman has given birth (7 days in some areas), people are forbidden to visit the new mother, and for the entire first month the woman is forbidden to visit others.

The Marriage Custom of Zhuang Minority -- Carrying the Bride on Back

The Zhuang wedding process involves several interesting practices such as carrying the bride on the back, chopping the ladder, removing the bridge and singing competitions. Before the wedding, a man with both parents alive is chosen to carry the bride, who must not wear shoes until she reaches the door. If her bare feet touch the floor, the groom often has to drink heavily as a result of losing bets. Accompanied by more than 10 maids of honor and singers, the bride has to climb up the temporarily built bamboo ladder to the groom’s home, and then walk across the “new bridge”, which is made of bamboo. After that somebody chops the ladder and the “new bridge”, which shows that the bride will be faithful to her husband forever. At night afterwards, the groom and bride sing songs with the younger fellows of the stockaded village until dawn. The next day, the bride goes home and the groom eventually takes her back during that day or the next day. The singing continues at night for three nights, as the people compete in singing sundry songs, songs of praise and love songs.

The Eating Custom of Zhuang Minority

Typical Food of Zhuang Minority

The Traditional Activities of Zhuang Minority