Traditional Sports

The traditional sports of the Achang have a long history, which is a precious sport cultural heritage created by the Achang people over a long time life and production.The traditional sports stressskills, entertainment and bodybuilding, with confrontation sometimes. There are various forms of traditional sports of the ethnic group, which are good for improving their physical and mental health as an important part of its culture.In the long history of inheritance and development of their traditional sports, some items have vanished. Those sport items that have passed down to date have withstood the test of time, which show a strong vigor for inheritance. However, impacted by the diverse social culture in the modern times, the survival and development room for their traditional sports has gradually dwindled. The influence of many sport items has gradually declined.The teenagers ofAchang have limited knowledge of their traditional sports. The number of teenagers learning and taking part in their traditional sports also keeps decreasing. All of these have a negative impact on the inheritance and development of their traditional sports.

(1) Swing

Swing competition is held on the lunar January 4. On that morning, the young men in the village chop some bamboos from the mountain, and set up a swing with the bamboo at an open place in the village, known as “Liqiu”. Meanwhile, some elders make a strawman with straw and cloth, symbolizing “Lord Qiu”. After “Liqiu” and “Lord Qiu” are ready,they begin to worship the “Lord Qiu” with a sacrificial ceremony lively among the sounds ofdrum and gong and fire-crackers. The sacrificial offerings are placed in front ofthe “Lord Qiu”. The reputable elders in the village kneel down to pray for blessings. Here comes the swing time. “Lord Qiu” is put on the the swing and plays first. Then the elders play.Young men, women and children follow to hold swing competitions. The Cheqiu (a kind of swing) is somewhat like a spinning wheel, which is a farm tool used by the Achang people.A Cheqiu can be ridden by four players or eight players. The players whose feet touch the land thrust against the ground hard in turn to make the swing turn quickly just like a wheel.Nowadays in every farming recession season, men and women hold Cheqiu competitions to see which team can be faster.

(2) Lantern Dancing and Lion Dancing

In the faith ofAchang people, “Langshen” is worshiped, which is also known as “Lantern Deity” or “Lion Ghost”. It’s the fiercest ghost in Achang’s ideology. If someone in the village is ill or some livestock animal dies, especially when a lot of youth in the village fall ill or lots of natural plants have withered, the village becomes restless. They believe that it’s because the “Langshen” has been angered. To please the “Langshen”, they invite“Huo Pao” to pray and make some promises for blessings.To keep promise, they perform the lion lantern dance from lunar January 2nd, to show their worship and sincerity to the“Langshen”. The performers chant and dance to comfort the “Langshen”. Such activities usually last till lunar January 15th. During this period, the lantern dancers visit and greet a different village every night and join their banquet. They burn up the lion lanterns, and throw the ash into the rivers or ditches. Previously such kind of event was held every three or five years. Today, lantern dancing and lion dancing are performed by the Achang people every Spring Festival.They stage a greeting performance in different places.