The ‘King Pan’ Festival, or Pan Wang, is celebrated by the Yao people on the 16th day of the tenth lunar month. This king is considered to be the Yao group’s ancestor and this festival pays tribute to all their ancestors. During the festival, there is a large singing fair.
The legend goes that there was a war between King Ping of the Yao Mountain and King Gao; King Ping offered the hand of his most beautiful daughter to one who would bring the head of King Gao to him. But a dragon-dog carried the head in its mouth to the King and so the dragon-dog, named Pan Hu, married the princess but wanted to be human. For a week, the princess steamed her husband in a box and on the sixth day she saw that he was indeed turning into a man. Hen King Ping sent Pan Hu to rule the Kuaiji Mountain and he became King Pan. He and the princess raised six daughters and six sons – the ancestors of the twelve Yao clans.
Pan died after being crushed by an antelope while hunting in the mountains and, to remember their father, the children caught the animal and made a drum from its hide to beat a rhythm in their anger and heartbreak.
This legend gave rise to the King Pan Festival and, because of the legend, Yao people consider eating dog to be taboo. Now, Yao people sing love songs during the festival, which has become a way for them to worship their ancestors and celebrate a good harvest. It is a holiday the Yao enjoy.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|