The origin of the three major festivals of Naxi nationality

The eighth day of the second lunar month is the "Three Flowers Festival" of the Naxi nationality in Lijiang. "Three Flowers" is the god of war he worships. Legend has it that a long time ago, a shepherd was herding sheep on Yulong Snow Mountain, and a white roe deer ran out of the flock and turned into a white stone. After seeing it, the shepherd thought that this white stone must be a good thing to protect livestock and decided to take it home.

The stone was light at first, but then it became heavier and heavier, so the shepherd had to put down the white stone to catch his breath. Who knows this release, Baishi can never get back. No matter how hard he tried, Baishi wouldn't move. When people learned about this, they thought it was an epiphany of God, so they built a temple where the stone stopped to worship.

Since then, whenever Naxi people fight abroad, there is always a warrior wearing white armor, riding a white horse and holding a white spear and silver knife to help. People think that he is the embodiment of the white stone of Yulong Snow Mountain, so he is called the "Three Flowers" God. "Three Flowers" means "Jade Dragon Snow Mountain" in Naxi language. Since then, "Sanhua" has become the patron saint of Naxi nationality, offering sacrifices regularly every year, and gradually evolved into a traditional festival for the whole people.

On the day of Sanhua Festival, Naxi people from all over the country rushed to the Sanhua Pavilion in Baisha River to slaughter sheep and worship the three gods enshrined in the temple. During the festival, spring is bright and camellia is in full bloom. In addition to offering sacrifices to gods and praying for blessings, people will also hold horse racing, singing duet, dancing and other activities, or go to Yufeng Temple not far from the temple to watch the famous "Wannian Camellia".

There are three temples at the foot of Yulong Mountain. Because Yulong Mountain was once called "Beiyue" in Nanzhao, it is also called Beiyue Temple. According to Naxi folklore, in ancient times, a hunter found a strange snow stone on Yulong Mountain, so he picked it up and walked home. When he came to the present temple ruins, he put it down to rest. When he tried to pick it up, he was too heavy to lift it again. People believe that this stone is the incarnation of God, so they built a temple on the spot to worship it.

Since then, people have often seen a god wearing white armor, wearing a white helmet, holding a white spear and riding a white horse, and often come to people to show their saints to protect the Naxi people from epidemics, fires, military disasters and other disasters. This god is regarded as the "three flowers of Apu" and the most authoritative god of the nation.

Inheritance and development:

The most essential significance of festivals is the long-standing roots of a national culture. The traditional festival of every nation is a gorgeous picture, which has been spread from distant history to present life.

Sanduo is the protector of Naxi nationality, the embodiment of Yulong Snow Mountain of Naxi nationality and the embodiment of Naxi national spirit. For thousands of years, it has inspired the Naxi people to struggle hard and seek up and down. Yulong as a pillow, Jinsha as a belt, red tiger as a horse, deer as an ox, created a unique and splendid national culture, which made Naxi people enjoy the reputation of creating a big culture by small ethnic groups.

Zhou Zhi, a famous Naxi scholar, still remembers the couplets of Beiyue Temple: Enpu is a god who is good at farming, herding, singing and fighting, and once sprinkled blood for scholars; Naxi nationality is a nation with heroes, talents and experts, and is willing to constantly recommend its heart through self-improvement.

More than three festivals, a beautiful festival for Naxi children, are gathering Naxi children from all over the country and attracting Chinese and foreign guests from afar with strong ethnic flavor and colorful cultural activities under the new historical conditions.