Yi Fan Festival of Mulao Ethnic Group

General Introduction to Yifan Holiday

Yifan Holiday (依饭节), also known as Zhi Le Gu (志乐古), is the grandest traditional festival of the Mulao people (仫佬族). During the festival, locals hold rituals to dispel evil spirits, pray for safety and good fortune, and celebrate bumper harvests. The festival takes place every three to five years after the Start of Winter, and is widely celebrated in Dongmen and Siba towns of the Mulao Autonomous County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Origin Legend

A widely circulated legend tells the story behind this festival. In ancient times, wild beasts frequently harassed Mulao villages. The fiercest among them was a mythical lion, the king of beasts. It hurt both people and livestock, and ravaged farm crops, bringing great hardship to the locals.

Just when the villagers were trapped in despair, a maiden riding a white horse appeared. She shot the ferocious lion dead and saved countless lives. She also retrieved grain seeds that had been seized by the beast. Later, she crafted ox and buffalo figures from taro and sweet potato to bless farmland cultivation, and taught young Mulao men martial arts to fend off wild animals. From then on, the mountainous regions inhabited by the Mulao people enjoyed peaceful days and successive good harvests.

To honor this heroic maiden, villagers took turns raising funds and holding collective gatherings year after year. These activities gradually developed into today’s Yifan Holiday.

Festival Customs and Ritual Arrangements

The festival features group gatherings, divine sacrifices, folk singing and drum-and-gong performances. People select the longest and fullest glutinous corn cobs, tie them with colored ribbons and hang them on the walls. On the central table stand numerous ox and buffalo sculptures carved from sweet potatoes.

A large plate of five-color glutinous rice is placed at the center, surrounded by twelve varieties of agricultural produce including sesame, soybeans, star anise and ginger, as well as twelve kinds of sacrificial foods such as chicken, duck, fish, pork heart and pork liver. The abundant offerings symbolize thriving livestock and fruitful harvests across farming, fishing, animal husbandry and sideline industries.

Cultural Connotations

Singers dressed in red sing and dance around the sacrificial table. They advocate kindness, filial piety to parents, respect for teachers, harmonious neighborhood relations, integrity in daily life and business, diligence and frugality in household management, as well as patriotism. These performances fully reflect the moral standards and life ideals of the Mulao people.

When the festival comes to an end, the decorated corn cobs and farm cattle sculptures are distributed to every household as auspicious gifts.