Westward migration Festival

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On April 18 of the lunar calendar every year, thisof Xibe The Westward Migration Festival is one of the traditional festivals celebration is conducted to memorize great historical deeds of the xibeancestors who moved westward from northeast china to the area of ili in Xinjiang.In 1764，the government of Qing Dynasty（1616 Ad to 1911 AD）called up 1，020 soldiers of Xibe ethnic groupfrom Shengjing（which is now Shenyang of Liaoning Province）with their family accompanying them，the number of whom adds up to over 4，000 and moved westward to the area of Ili in Xinjiang to carry out exploitation of virgin land in border area.On April 18 of the lunar calendar that year，the Xibe soldiers who immigrated westward to Xinjiang and Xibe people who is left in northeast China gathered under the roof of Xibe ancestral temple in Shengjing-Taiping Temple to offer sacrifice to their ancestors；after having farewell dinner，people separated with their belovedones.the next morning，the Xibe soldiers and their families said goodbye to their fellow countrymen and embarked on the journey of immigrating estward.Through the trekking for seventeen months，they arrived at the area of Ili in Xinjiang.The Qapqal Autonomous County of Xibe now was the place where the soldiers quartered，and the Xibe people in that place are their posterity.Over 240 years later，when it comes to the day of april 18 of the lunar calendar，the immigrated Xibe people in Xinjiang shall conduct a variety of activities to memorize this special day and define it as their own traditional festival.On the day，Xibe people will be dressed up in festival costumes and happily gather together，playing the music instrument of”Dongbur”the Toneof merk”and having the robust and fast-rhythm dance of”Beilun”to express the yearning for their hometown and the hope for the bright future and a wonderful life.By 2006，the Westward migration Festival is listed in the first national intangible cultural heritage directory.

Before the foundation of the people’s republic of china the Westward Migration Festival is，in most cases，held in the form of the festival temple fair which is conducted in the temple yard or in the wild open air according to the time-honored customs of worshipping nature，which，therefore led to the ntegrated activity contents of religion and culture.At the time，there were 8 Niulus（one kind of social organization）in Xibe ethnic groupwith each Niulu having its own temple yard inside which were Temple of lord guan and Goddess Temple.When it came to April 18 of the lunar calendar on the Westward migration Festival，each niulu shall hold a temple fair which includes ceremonies and activities such as”sharpening the broadsword for Lord guan（which indicates that one will be as loyal as Guan Yu to the throne and serve the country worthily），”praying to God Suomuda for safety and health”（which mplies the prayer for children to be faraway from all illnesses and disasters and that God of Plague is expelled back to Heaven），”praying Goddess who administers the people in the world for more children and more fortune”aswell as exorcism of Shaman and climbing the knife-ladder.In the meantime there would be a number of recreational activities such as archery, wrestling, horse racing, doing the yangko dance, the folk song contest, dancing, talking and singing and Handuchun (a kind of talking and dancing artistic skill peculiar in Xibe ethnic group). On the day, young people often ride horses totravel in the open air while women and elders ride a cart or walk to the wild place in bunches going hiking and picnicking to spend the festival together. In (a kind of sauce made from wheat) and eat steamed meat to celebrate thl un addition, people will go to the temple fair and every family will make “Mishun traditional anniversary. All cadres and workers will have a day off on that day.

Since the reform and opening up to the outside world ceremonies and connotations of the folk art of the Westward Migration Festival have undergone some changes and the scale of the festival is gradually expanded; people of various ethnic groups actively participate in the festival which originally only involved Xibe people; while the festival has spread from Xinjiang to the northeast China. With more and more frequent visits and exchanges between people of Xinjiang and the northeast China, Xibe people who live in Shenyang City gathered in Beiling Park in 1982 and held commemorative activities for the Westward Migration Festival for the first time, talking about the history of Xibe people moving westward, the connotation of immigrating westward and garrisoning the border region, the customs, culture and art, etc.

So as to inspire the compatriots to inherit and carry forward the glorious traditions of their ancestors and make contribution to the country. Then commemorative activities are also held in harbin dalian etc. after that such celebrations pervaded all areas where Xibe people live, so the festival culture which has been lost for many years is able to be continued in the northeast China. In 2004, the government of Qapqal autonomous County of Xibe conducted commemorative activities for the 240 anniversary of the westward migration of Xibe people with a variety of recreational activities, symposia, trade fairs, tourist activities, food tasting, performances of ethnic minoritycostumes, folk culture displays and so on being carried out, which has offered extensive shows and introductions of folk cultural tradition of xibe ethnic.