Maogusi in Tutuping Village, Jiashi Township, Longshan County
Today Maogusi is mainly found in Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, and Guzhang counties of Hunan. The author focused on surveys in Longshan and Yongshun counties, which serve as examples below. Longshan lies in western Hunan at the junction of Hunan, Hubei, and Chongqing, bordering Sangzhi and Yongshun to the east and Baojing to the south.
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
Today's Maogusi is mainly distributed in Longshan County, Yongshun County, Baojing County, and Guzhang County of Hunan Province. The author focused on investigating the Maogusi of Longshan County and Yongshun County. The following takes the investigations of these two counties as examples.
Longshan History:
Longshan is located in western Hunan, at the junction of the three provinces and municipalities of Hunan, Hubei, and Chongqing. It borders Sangzhi and Yongshun counties of this province to the east, Baojing County to the south, Laifeng of Hubei and Youyang and Xiushan of Chongqing Municipality to the west, and Xuan'en of Hubei Province to the north. Its geographical coordinates are 109°10' to 109°53' east longitude and 28°45' to 29°30' north latitude. It is 598 kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha.
Longshan is 106 kilometers from north to south and 32.5 kilometers from east to west, with a total area of 3,131 square kilometers. The terrain is high in the north and low in the south. In the east there is the Yonglong boundary, in the northeast the Mengbi boundary and Huanglian boundary, in the central part the Luo boundary, and in the west the Kelizou Slope and Bamian Mountain, all extending from northeast to southwest. Within its territory, ten thousand mountains rise and ranges stretch on and on, natural caves are scattered like stars, and the Youshui River, Lishui River, and their tributaries crisscross the area. The highest elevation is Hongqi Boundary at 1,736.5 meters on the border with Xuan'en, Hubei, and the lowest is 218.2 meters on the bank of the Longtou River. In the south there are river valley flatlands of over ten thousand mu such as Liye and Miao'ertan, and more than 70 high-mountain platforms of over 500 mu are distributed throughout the county.
Longshan has a subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is 15.8°C, the highest temperature is 39.5°C, the lowest temperature is -6°C, and the annual rainfall is 1,400 millimeters.
Longshan was part of Jingzhou in the Yu Gong (Tribute of Yu), which covered Jing and Hengyang. Jingzhou alone extended east to Yang, west to Liang, north to Yong and Yu, and south beyond the Five Ridges, including the lands of the southwestern barbarians. By the Spring and Autumn period, all the southern barbarians belonged to Chu, and the area was part of Wuzhong. During the Warring States period, the various states attacked one another. In the twenty-second year of King Qingxiang of Chu, Qin seized Wuzhong and the south of the Yangtze as Qianzhong Commandery, but the following year it reverted to Chu. In the twenty-fourth year of the First Emperor, Qin destroyed Chu and established Qianzhong Commandery as before. In the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Qianzhong Commandery was changed to Wuling Commandery, governing thirteen counties: Youyang, Qianling (Baojing), Chong (the land of Sangzhi), Lingyang (the land of present-day Yongshun and Longshan counties), and others. Under Wang Mang's Xin dynasty it was changed to Jianping Commandery; after Wang Mang's fall, it reverted to its former status. In the twentieth year of Emperor Xian's Jian'an era, Liu Bei and Sun Quan allied and divided Jingzhou: Jiangxia, Changsha, and Guiyang to the east went to Wu, while Nan, Lingling, and Wuling to the west went to Shu. In the twenty-fourth year, Sun Quan attacked and took Jingzhou, and again took the three western commanderies. In the first year of Zhaolie's Zhangwu era, the Wuling barbarians sent envoys to request troops. The following year, in the sixth month, the Han army was defeated at Youting, and the land wholly belonged to Wu. In the sixth year of Emperor Jing of Wu's Yong'an era, Wuling was divided to establish Tianmen Commandery (Tianmen is more than thirty li from present-day Yongding; Wu took the name from Tianmen Mountain for the commandery). In the first year of Emperor Wu of Jin's Taikang era, the two counties of Chong and Lingyang were assigned to it. Youyang was further split off to establish Qianyang (the land of present-day Longshan County). Liang changed it to Daxiang County (the land of present-day Longshan County). Chen assigned it to Yuanling Commandery. Sui established Chenzhou, and Daxiang belonged to Chenzhou. In the second year of Tang's Tianshou era, Chenzhou was split to establish Xizhou Lingxi Commandery, governing two counties: Daxiang and Santing (Santing County was in present-day Baojing, split from Daxiang County in the ninth year of Zhenguan), under Qianzhong Circuit. At the end of Tang, in disorder, the area was occupied by the Man barbarians (many counties were abolished), who set themselves up as prefects. Ma Yin held Hunan and sent envoys to pay tribute to Liang; he was appointed Shizhong and Zhongshu Ling and enfeoffed as Prince of Chu. In the fifth year of Tianfu, Peng Shichou (also written Ran or Qian), prefect of Xizhou, led the Man of Jin and Jiang to attack Lizhou. Ma Xifan, Prince of Chu, sent Liu Xun and others to strike them. Shichou was badly defeated; Liu Xun and others attacked Xizhou, and Shichou fled to Jiangzhou, sending his son Shigao with the barbarian chiefs to surrender to Liu Xun. Xifan then erected a bronze pillar as a marker and ordered the scholar Li Honggao to inscribe it (the bronze pillar is at Huixiping, now on the border of Yuanling and adjacent to Yongshun). In Song times, the three prefectures of Upper, Middle, and Lower Xi, along with Tianci, Longci, Zhongshun, Ganhua, Baojing, Yongshun, and other prefectures, belonged to Jinghu Circuit, and the Peng family served as prefects for generations. In the Zhiyuan era of Yuan, Yongshun Route was established, later changed to Yongshun Xuanwei Shi. Nanwei Prefecture, Baojing, Ganhua, and other places set up Man barbarian chiefs, under Sizhou Anfu Si. Nanwei and Baojing prefectures belonged to Gemanyu Anfu Si, under Sichuan Province, later abolished. In the fifth year of Ming Hongwu, Yongshun Junmin Dengchu Xuanwei Shi was established, governing three zhizhou and six zhangguan si; Baiya Dong Zhangguan Si belonged to Yongshun Xuanwei Si, under Huguang Dusi (the land of present-day Longshan Baiya Li).
In the fourth year of Shunzhi in the Qing dynasty, the Prince Gongshun of Ningnan arrived at Chenzhou, and the offices of Yongshun, Baojing, Sangzhi, and others all submitted and pledged allegiance, retaining their original posts, and later were issued imperial edicts and seals. In the fifth year, Peng Yubin of the Baojing office and Xiang Guodong of the Sangzhi office were impeached and removed for crimes. In the sixth year, Peng Zhaohuai of the Yongshun office offered his territory, and in the seventh year Yongshun Prefecture was established under the Hunan Provincial Administration Commission. It governed four counties: Sangzhi, Yongshun, Baojing, and Longshan. Longshan was split off from Yongshun. After the Republic, it belonged to Yongshun Prefecture. After the nationwide liberation in 1949, it first belonged to Yongshun Special District; later the Yongshun Special District was abolished, and it came under the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region, later changed to Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Since 1957 it has belonged to the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
Evolution of Yongshun:
Yongshun is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, bordering Yongding District of Zhangjiajie City to the east, Longshan County to the west, Baojing County and Guzhang County to the south, Longshan County and Sangzhi County to the north, and Yuanling County to the southeast. Its geographical coordinates lie between 109°23′ and 110°23′ east longitude and 28°42′ and 29°27′ north latitude. It is 8 kilometers wide from east to west and 1 kilometer long from north to south. The terrain is steep with rolling mountains and crisscrossing rivers. The area has four distinct seasons, with rain and heat in the same season, a long frost-free period, no severe cold in winter, and no extreme heat in summer. It is suitable for the growth of animals and plants. The total area of the county is 3,810.6325 square kilometers.
Yongshun County was part of Jingzhou in the Yu Gong; in the Spring and Autumn period it belonged to Chu; during the Warring States period it belonged to Qin as the land of Qianzhong Commandery; under the Han it was under Wuling Commandery; the four counties of Yuanling, Lingyang (the land of present-day Yongshun and Longshan counties), Qianling (the land of present-day Baojing County), and Chong (the land of present-day Sangzhi County) were under the present prefecture. Under the Han, Tianmen Commandery was established, with the two counties of Yan (changed to Chong under the Han) and Lingyang assigned to it. In the Jin dynasty, Qianyang was split from Youyang. Liang changed it to Daxiang County (the land of present-day Yongshun County). Chen assigned it to Yuanling Commandery. Sui established Chenzhou Lingxi Commandery, governing two counties: Daxiang and Santing (Santing County was split off in the ninth year of Zhenguan), under Qianzhong Circuit. Chong County was split into Linli in the sixth year of Jin Taikang, and later merged into Linli. In the Daye era of Sui, Chongyi and Cili counties were established, and Tang continued them. Later Chongyi was merged into Cili. In the Five Dynasties period, it was all under Chu's Xizhou. In Song it was divided into the three prefectures of Upper, Middle, and Lower Xi, and there were also Longci, Tianci, Zhongshun, Ganhua, Baojing, and other prefectures under Jinghu Circuit, with the Peng family serving as prefects for generations. In the Zhiyuan era of Yuan, Yongshun Route was established, later changed to Yongshun Xuanfu Shi. Nanwei, Baojing, Ganhua, and other places set up Man barbarian chiefs, under Sizhou Anfu Si. Nanwei and Baojing belonged to Gemanyu Anfu Si (the three Xi prefectures were abolished), under Huguang Province. In the second year of Ming Hongwu, Yongshun Junmin Anfu Si was established, governing three zhizhou and six zhangguan si. In the sixth year it was promoted to Xuanwei Si, and Baojing Junmin Anfu Si was also established, under Huguang Dusi. Cili was promoted to a prefecture in the first year of Yuanzhen, and Shixi Prefecture was also established (the land of the Upper and Lower Dong offices of present-day Sangzhi County). There were also Upper Sangzhi and Lower Sangzhi, where Man barbarian zhangguan si were established, under Gemanyu Anfu Si. In Ming, Sangzhi Anfu Si was established, and Anfu Shouyu Qianhu Suo was also set up, under the commandant. In the Xuande era, Shixi Anfu Si was changed to Upper and Lower Dong Zhangguan Si.
In the fourth year of Shunzhi in the Qing dynasty, the Grand General Prince Gongshun of Ningnan arrived at Chenzhou, and the offices of Yongshun, Baojing, Sangzhi, and others all submitted and pledged allegiance, retaining their original posts, and were successively issued imperial edicts and seals. In the fifth year of Yongzheng, Peng Yubin of the Baojing office and Xiang Guodong of the Sangzhi office were impeached and removed for crimes. In the sixth year, Peng Zhaohuai of the Yongshun office offered his territory, and in the seventh year Yongshun Prefecture was established, with Yongshun County under Yongshun Prefecture. Its subordinate relations during the Republic of China period and after the founding of the People's Republic of China were the same as those of Longshan County.
Section One: The Maogusi of Tutuping Village, Jiashi Township, Longshan County
Brief Introduction to Tutuping, Jiashi Township:
Jiashi was originally called Jiajiazhai, an ancient market town in Longshan County. Because during the Ming dynasty the Jia family opened up this place, it was named after the Jia family. During the Qing dynasty it belonged to Dalali of the sixteen li of Longshan. The li administration was set up at Jiajiazhai. After liberation, some county cadres, having accepted new ideas, made an unconventional change and renamed Jiajiazhai as Jiashi. At the same time, Zhaotouzhai was changed to Zhaoshi and Miao'ertan to Miaoshi; this was also a mark of the times. Jiashi Township is located in the southern part of Longshan County, 85 kilometers from the county seat, with a total area of 70.13 square kilometers, arable land of 8,595 mu, and a population of 17,842 (data from the fifth national census in 2000). The township has 12 villages and 93 villager groups. In the township there are Tianshui Mountain and Huoshao Mountain to the east, and Mailong Ridge and Xianlong Mountain to the west. Within its borders are several streams: Puche Stream, Lengshui Stream, and Hengzan Stream. The highest elevation is 910 meters, and the lowest is 250.4 meters. The average annual temperature is 16°C, with an average January temperature of 4.7°C and an average July temperature of 26.7°C. The average annual precipitation is 1,303.3 millimeters. Agricultural products include rice, corn, sweet potatoes, and peanuts, while forest products are mainly timber, tung oil, and tea oil.
Of the population of Jiashi Township, 94% are Tujia. In Tutuping, Zhongxin, Gaoping, Taoping, Bashan, Yinhe, and other villages, the Tujia population accounts for over 97%. Villages where the Tujia language is still spoken include: Tutuping, Zhongxin (composed of four Tujia mountain villages: Mopo, Redong, Peijiabao, and Tageping), and Gaoping (whose original Tujia name was Woba). The Tujia language in other villages has disappeared.
Tutuping Village is situated halfway up Huoshao Mountain in Jiashi Township, at an elevation of 601 meters. Originally a narrow winding path led up the mountain directly to the village; in 1996 a village road reached the village. Going to other villages from this village requires climbing slopes. In the past there was a folk rhyme: "If you have a daughter, don't send her to Tutuping; going out means climbing slopes that kill you." The village population is 540 (data from the fifth national census in 2000), with 134 mu of paddy fields and 560 mu of dry land. The village has 82 houses with 253 rooms.
There are three villager groups and two natural villages. 98% of the villagers are surnamed Peng (including wives of other surnames). The Peng surname is descended from the former Baojing Dala Si. The Peng generation poem is:
Fu Shou Qi Rong Hua, Shao Mei Zu Chang Da. Cheng Zhong You Nian Chang, Ying Xiong Si Ji Tai.
They have now reached the "You" generation. The Peng family of Tutuping, the Peng family of Pojiao, and the entire Peng family of Longshan are all of one continuous line according to their Peng Family Genealogy.
Tutuping Village has no rivers or streams; washing clothes and using water depend on the water from the village wells. This place has been quite isolated since ancient times, and the Tujia culture preserved here is therefore quite primitive. Tutuping is a Tujia place name; for thousands of years it has been called Tutuping and has never changed. Later, after the people's communes, a brigade was established; it was once the Third Brigade of Jiashi Commune, merged with a natural village called Laizipo on its back side into one brigade. In the early 1980s, the people's communes were restructured into townships, and brigades were renamed villages; the name Tutuping Village has continued to the present. Tutuping Village is 10 li from the seat of Jiashi Township government. Along this 10-li route, there used to be three relatively large streams to ford: Wujia Stream, Puche Stream, and Hengzan River, plus six other small streams. In summer, when mountain streams rose suddenly, fording was difficult. Now there is a village road from Jiashi Township government to Tutuping Village, and stone bridges have been built over the streams, so it can be said to be unobstructed.
The Maogusi of Tutuping has a long history. According to the local elder Peng Zuhao (died in 1999 at the age of 85), who presided over the hand-waving dance and performed Maogusi, generation after generation they danced the hand-waving dance and performed Maogusi. After liberation, in the era of vigorously destroying superstitions, people still secretly danced the hand-waving dance and performed Maogusi. Both the hand-waving dance and Maogusi were performed during the first month of the lunar year, specifically from the third to the ninth day of the first month. On the third day, early in the morning, the altar master and several other prominent people went to the Sheba Hall to worship the Eight Bu Kings, and after breakfast they conducted hand-waving activities in the Sheba Hall. People had to dance the hand-waving dance and perform Maogusi in a yuecuo (Sheba Hall) called Lihaku above the village; at other times and in other places it was forbidden. The specific procedure was to dance the hand-waving dance first, then perform Maogusi.
The hand-waving hall at Lihaku has two sections, with a light well in the middle, and wing rooms on both sides of the two main buildings. On the pillars on both sides of the first main gate entering the hand-waving hall there is a couplet:
Observing is to show loyalty, iron horses and golden spears, the spirit of a hegemon
Writing is all to admonish the world, the gate of propriety and the road of righteousness, the heart of sages
This couplet is clearly a work of Han culture, written by a Tujia person of Tutuping after receiving Han cultural influence. In the center of the hand-waving hall are enshrined eight very ugly, ferocious-looking statues of the Eight Bu Kings. Their names are very difficult to pronounce: Rechao Heshe, Xitilao, Lidu, Sudu, Nawumi, Longci Yesuo Yechong, Xihelao, and Ye Hui Ye Na Fei Lie Ye. Among the eight statues there is also a goddess statue; legend says she was the shared wife of the eight Bu King brothers. On both sides of the statues there is a couplet:
Sacrificing to the gods and rewarding the temple rites
Hand-waving to pray for a good harvest
Below is an introduction to the sequence of the hand-waving dance at Tutuping and a record of the Maogusi.
The Tutuping Version of the Hand-Waving Dance
The hand-waving dance of Tutuping is a small hand-waving dance. The dance posture is graceful and the movements are smooth. At the beginning, the altar master of the hand-waving dance uses the Tujia language to call the whole village from the most central position, so that everyone in the village can hear.