The Maonan People

The Maonan live in the northern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region . Most are concentrated in the Xianan area of Huanjiang county, which is "distinguished by a long stretch of scenic mountains, towering peaks of all shapes and deep karst caves." The rest live in Hechi and Nandan. Historically, they are related to the Zhuang, Dong, and particularly the Shui peoples. Most Maonans know the Zhuang and Han languages.

Eighty per cent of the Maonan population have the surname "Tan." Others are named Lu, Meng, Wei, and Yan. Those with the same surname live in the same villages, the largest village consisting of no more than 100 households. Their houses and clothes are identical to their Zhuang and Han neighbors.

The primary occupation is agriculture, while some weave bambooware, raise beef cattle, make wooden articles and cast iron. Because of the use of primitive farm tools, their agricultural production before Liberation was low. They eat sour food--sour meats, pickles and snail soup, the most beloved, as well as sour hot pepper, tomato, turnip, papaya and cucumber. "Sour meat, nanxing in the Maonan language, is made with slices of pork or beef mixed with salt and preserved for two or three days. The salted pork or beef slices are then covered with rice flour that has been steamed and cooled. After preserving in an air-tight jar for three months, the meat is ready for the table."

The Maonan are polytheistic and practice ancestor worship. They believe the gods and spirits affect every part of life and have complex rituals for marriage, death, birth, and sickness . "When a person died, a Taoist priest would be invited to recite scriptures and join in the funeral procession, the son of the dead person would 'buy water' at a river or from a well to wash the body. " Chicken blood is poured over the grave before the burial to bless the spirit of the deceased and protect their offspring.

They celebrate the Spring Festival, Zhongyuan Festival and Pure Brightness Day, all of which are celebrated by the Han and Zhuang. They have a festival unique to them called the Fenglong Festival. It is celebrated by offering sacrifices to God and their ancestors and by praying for a good harvest. Married daughters return to their home villages for the celebration.

The Maonan are hospitable to one another and to guests. They practice monogamy and generally have small families. They also have strict rules for the remarriage of widows. For recreation, they sing and enjoy the "Maonan opera." They are also known for their hat, which is "artistically woven with 700 very thin strands of bamboo and decorated with black designs. It is used as an engagement gift. The boys like to give it to their girls on holidays. If the girl accepts it, it means that she agrees to their love. Symbol of a happy married life, the neat and tightly woven hat is also light, durable and rainproof." The hat is a favorite personal ornament for the girls.

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