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| There inhabits an outstanding ethnic group in the Southeast part of Guizhou, such as Liping,Congjiang, Rongjiang, Tianzhu, Jingping, Sansui, Zhenyuan and Yuping counties. Their villages are very eye catching with pyramid-like drum towers, flower bridges with roofs over them. The Dong nationality is well known for their Dong Big Songs, which is a musical concord in a special polyphonic style, sweet and touching. |
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| 在贵州东南部的黎平、从江、榕江、天柱、锦屏、三穗、镇远和玉屏等县，居住着一个与众不同的民族，高耸如宝塔的鼓楼和带屋顶长廊的风雨桥是他们明显的聚居地特征，那就是侗族。其无伴奏多声部合唱的"侗族大歌"，和声华丽，动人心弦。 |
The Dong nationality is one of ancient ethnic groups even in the Qin Dynasty. The group moved from the Yunshui River to the borderlands between Guizhou, Guangxi and Hunan province, with the majority scattered in Guizhou. Dong Villages are often located on the waters and at the foot of the mountains, made up of dozens of Diaojiaolou wooden houses, or piled dwellings. At the center of the village there is usually a drum tower, the holy public place where they gather for meetings. The drum tower is made of wood, elegantly built in an octagon shape. The ground floor is used as a public hall for meetings, social gatherings and rest. Above to the ceiling, there hangs the drum of the village, which is regarded a holy item of the village. The senior head of the village is in charge of it. The different drum rhythms inform the villagers of a gathering, or a meeting, or a social occasion when there are honorable guests coming for a visit.
"Xinggezuoyue"and "Taolanzi" (Begging for the Basket)
The threshing ground by the drum tower is the place for singing and dancing
when there is a festival or on a happy occasion. Singing and dancing is
part of the Dong's life. They have 
compiled
numerous songs in history, of which the Dong Big Songs are the best with
a polyphonic style sung by a group of villagers. The Dong Big Songs are
sweet, sophisticated magnificent and well known in the musical circle all
over the world. Singing often goes hand in hand with love. When night falls,
antiphonic songs can be heard between girls and boys in the hall of the
drum tower.It is pretty romantic when the Dong girls and boys fall in love.
There are special and traditional ways for boys to go courting with girls,
and one popular one is called "Xingge Zuoyue". When girls enter
womanhood, boys will come to ask for a date by singing "love songs".
The girls have the right to choose their loves, welcoming them by opening
the door and let them in. And then the boys will sing for a cup of tea and
other folk songs of love, the girls will join in. If the antiphonal songs
go well, they will have more dates in this form of "Xingge Zuoyue".
When they fall in love, the boys will ask the go-between to ask for the
marriage.Every
March, 3 on the Chinese lunar calendar witnesses a go-courting climax. The
boys ask the girl for a hand in a tradiyional form
of "Begging for the Basket". In the early morning, girls dress up in costumes,each with a basket full of garlic shoots and spring onions to meet boys. If a boy has affection for a girl, he will beg for the basket from the girl by singing the song of "Begging for the Basket". If the girl is pleased, she will give her basket to the boy. The garlic shoots and spring onions symbolize their love. After this process, boys and girls in pairs will have a variety of activities, such as going picnic, singing antiphonal songs, or joining the "Caigetang", a dancing gathering by the drum tower.
侗族源自古代百越族系秦汉时是百越西区中的一支，自长江支流沅水向西南迁徙至现在的贵州、广西、湖南三省区毗邻地区，尤以在贵州分布最为广泛。
侗族多依山傍水而居，侗寨由一座座木构吊脚楼组成。作为村寨中心的鼓楼，是村民心目中神圣的地方。鼓楼多为全木结构，建造巧妙而富有美感。楼底下是全村的议事厅、休憩和社交的场所。从鼓楼的顶端悬挂下来一面大牛皮鼓，称为寨鼓。寨鼓是神圣之物，由代表着寨中最高权威的寨老执掌，只有寨老或他指定的人才有权登楼击鼓。一旦庄严的鼓声响起村民们便会按照鼓声节律变化所代表的号令而聚集到鼓楼来。平日议事，鼓声是“咚……咚咚”三声；紧急集合，是先重击一声，然后密密击敲；如果是来了贵宾，则是悠长舒展的长音。。。。。。
浪漫的择偶方式-"行歌坐月“和"讨篮子”
鼓楼下的歌坪(又称鼓楼坪)又是族人歌舞娱乐的地方。
能歌善舞的侗族人，在鼓楼下创造了极其丰富的侗族声乐，其中无伴奏多声部合唱的“侗族大歌”，更是以其华丽的和声和波澜磅礴的气势而动人心魄、名满天下。
侗族人的歌唱往往是与婚恋习俗交织在一起的。到了晚上，就常常可以听到鼓楼下传来男女青年情意绵绵的对歌。
侗族男女青年谈情说爱的形式非常浪漫，最流行的是“行歌坐月”。在少女进入婚恋年龄时，每逢月明之夜，有意追求的小伙子就会唱着“走寨歌 ”、“敲门歌”前来，有心的姑娘开门让中意的小伙子走进"月堂"(闺房)，小伙子接着唱“对凳歌”和“讨茶歌”，姑娘让座后给之茶喝，并以歌对唱，唱得情投意合就会相约时间再度“行歌坐月”。
经过多次“行歌坐月”，双方感情日益加深，小伙子就可以托媒求婚了。姑娘家还会以上门来“行歌坐月”的小伙子众多为荣呢。
每年农历三月初三是青年人相恋的火热日子，这时的求爱方式俗称“讨篮子”。这天一早，侗家姑娘们便穿上盛装，手提盛满葱蒜的篮子等候心上人的到来。小伙子到约会地点来相亲,看中哪位姑娘,就和姑娘对唱"讨篮歌"，那些由姑娘洗净的葱蒜象征着爱情的纯洁，小伙子讨得了篮子，好事就大有希望了。讨篮之后，青年们成双成群，有的在野外野炊和歌唱也有的以鼓楼坪为歌堂,进"踩歌堂"的活动。
母系社会的远古遗风-- “祭祖母”、“回娘家”
在侗族的一些节俗中，还能感受到母系社会悠远的回响。
在侗族人的心目中，“祖母”是本族至高无上的女祖，尊称为“萨”。每年农历初一到初七，或初七到十五，侗寨要进行隆重的“祭萨”。这风俗源自一个古老的传说。
相传，侗家的祖宗、女英雄杏妮曾多次率领侗民抗击外敌，最后战死沙场。侗族人民世世代代传颂杏妮，每年都要以“祭萨”的形式缅怀她。
在祭萨时设的"萨坛"是神圣的地方，在这里的祭祀仪式要全由寨辈份最高的寨老主持。主祭人向“祖母”敬献“祖母茶”后，就率领村民在鼓楼坪上载歌载舞，同声歌颂"祖母"。然后，青壮男女要扮成“祖母杏妮”的士兵，手持刀枪，在铳炮和锣鼓声中作村外追击敌人状。最后把"战场"上的稻草人刺倒。"凯旋"回村的队伍受到全寨人夹道欢迎，大家又回到鼓楼坪上歌舞，庆祝“抗击入侵的战争胜利”。
农历“四月八”是侗乡的另一个节日，这一天,男人都参加斗鸟.赛马等娱乐活动去了，寨里只留下女人。已出嫁的妇女就在这一天纷纷回家看望母亲，同时带上自制的乌米粑粑送给娘家的姐妹，同她们一起重温在娘家做姑娘时的温馨岁月。因此，“四月八”节在侗乡又叫做“女人节”。
诙谐的“抬官人”贺年
正月初三，侗寨有一个奇特的新春团拜节俗活动--“抬官人”。
“官人”，侗语称为“店宁蒙”，由一青少年担任，他身穿奇特的“官家八团花衣服”大家用轿子把他抬着在全寨游行。“官人”的队伍都打扮得稀奇古怪的，一路手舞足蹈，表演滑稽的动作，逗人发笑。沿途有许多扮成衣衫褴褛的乞丐拦路“抢劫”。队伍中有几十位盛装打扮的姑娘，当“官人”队伍浩浩荡荡进入鼓楼前的歌坪，姑娘们向村民们赠送食物。一群在鼓楼前等候的侗妹迎上前来用唱歌来向“官人”盘问，一面索取红包，“官人”要慷慨地施舍，哪位姑娘唱得好自然得到的红包便多。接着鼓楼坪上开始了全寨人的歌舞狂欢官人”和随从们可以邀请任何一位姑娘共舞，直到尽兴方休。春节时各侗寨要进行友好的团拜，“抬官人”成了互访时最热闹最有趣的活动。“官人”大队到其它村寨重演欢乐诙谐的游戏，主寨热情招待客寨的“官人”队伍，一同狂欢，气氛更是热闹。
Going Back to Maternal Family & Offering a Sacrifice to Grandma"
The ancient tradition of the matriarchal society still can be traced in some of the Dong's festivals or celebrations. In the eyes of the Dongs, grandma is regarded as the highest ancestor in the family called "Sha".
From Jan 1 to 7 every year, a ritual ceremony of offering a sacrifice to
"Sha" is to be solemnly
held in every Dong village. This social practice originated from a legend.
Legend has it that the maternal ancestor of the Dong, Xingni, led the Dongs
fight against the invaders many times and died a heroic death at the battle.
This story has passed down from generation to generation among the Dong
Villages. And every year a ritual ceremony is held in memory of her. Si
Yue Ba Festival is held on April 4 on the Chinese lunar calendar every year.
On the very day, men gather to join the bird fighting, horse racing and
other entertainments. Girls stay at home while married women get a chance
to go back to their maternal home, bringing some rice cakes for their mothers
and sisters.
Humorous "Taiguanren" Carnival during the Spring Festival
On every Jan 3on the Chinese lunar calendar, an exotic spring carnival is held in the Dong villages, called "Taiguanren". "Guangren" played by a young man in the colorful official uniform of the Qing Dynasty is carried in a sedan chair, followed by a large group of villagers dressed up in strange clothes dancing strangely all the way around the village. It is fun to watch such a spring parade. During the parade, pretended beggars begin to rub the parade and girls in full customs offer food to on-lookers. When the parade approaches the drum tower, the girls waiting at the tower will question the "Guanren" by singing and begging for spring allowances. "Guanren"will more allowances to the girls who sing the best. On the threshing ground in front of the drum tower, the carnival reaches its climax, villagers dance to their heart contents.
