The Jinuo ethnic minority group of about 180,000 people is found only in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
The Jinuo were previously found mainly in Jinghong County of Daizu Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuang Banna. Zhuoba is the name Jinuo people give to the head of the village. Jinuo’s festivals were decided by Zhuoba and the fifth day of the first lunar month was designated as the day to mark Temaoke Festival, which was celebrated like the New Year. Temaoke means iron casting.
The day previous to the fifth day of the first lunar month, marked the actual
start of the festival.
Early in the day, villagers hang sun drums in the
center of the biggest square of the village, because Jinuo people worship the
sun and the sun drum is their symbol. The fun begins when the drums are struck.
Traditionally, men beat the drums and danced in the front of the drums. Women, meanwhile, played other instruments and danced behind the drums.
At nightfall, Zhuoba sends people with gifts to the blacksmith’s home, where they present him with wine and ask for predictions on agriculture for the next growing season.
Early the next day, villagers gather at the blacksmith’s house where Zhuoba
and male
representatives of respective households offer sacrifices and
participate in the ritual of opening the furnace and starting the iron
casting.
People would hope to get new farming tools because of the belief that iron tools would bring them good luck in farming and a subsequent good harvest.
The blacksmith was such a key figure at the festival because of the importance of farming to the region.
(Source: Women of China English Monthly August 2003)
