A Brief History of the Tujia—Tujia Culture in the Socialist Period (Part Two)
II. The Modernization of Tujia Culture After Reform and Opening Up. Tujia culture is the crystallization of the Tujia people's production and life experience and wisdom over thousands of years, and it possesses great vitality. After reform and opening up, Tujia areas enjoyed social stability and rapid economic growth, and living standards rose steadily, providing for the continued development of Tujia culture...
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 Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated.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.
II. The Modernization of Tujia Culture After Reform and Opening Up
Tujia culture is the summary of the production and life experience of the Tujia people over thousands of years and the crystallization of their wisdom, and it possesses strong vitality. After reform and opening up, the social situation in Tujia areas became stable, the economy grew rapidly, and people's living standards continuously improved, which provided a rare historical opportunity for the continued development of Tujia culture. To seize this new development opportunity and promote innovation in Tujia culture, it is necessary to carry forward the essence of Tujia culture, eliminate the cultural dross that does not meet the demands of the times, and realize the modernization of Tujia culture.
First, carry forward the cultural spirit of the Tujia. The essence of Tujia culture is mainly shown in the following: (1) A spirit of patriotism. The Tujia are an ethnic group rich in patriotic spirit. Although they live in the inland mountainous areas of the motherland, they are very concerned about the survival and development of the country. Whenever foreign enemies invaded, they would organize and bravely kill the enemy to defend their homeland. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, when Japanese pirates caused chaos along the southeast coast, the Tujia people, on orders from the imperial court, eagerly went to the southeast to resist the pirates and made important contributions to clearing the pirate scourge. In modern and contemporary times, the Tujia people have shared the fate of the country and fought to the death against foreign invaders. Patriotism and defense of the home became a tradition and an important cultural spirit of the Tujia people. Many of their poems, writings, legends, and stories praise patriotic figures and use patriots as examples for educating later generations. In contemporary society, this value concept should be continuously passed on. (2) A spirit of enduring hardship and toil. The Tujia people live in mountainous areas, and long-term work in the mountains has tempered this excellent character. Such a character enables them not to fear the hardships of the years or the dangers of the environment, and to maintain an optimism toward life, thereby seeking survival and development. (3) A quality of bravery and tenacity. In the long-term life of hunting wild animals, the Tujia people formed the qualities of bravery and tenacity. This ethnic character was fully demonstrated in the Chinese nation's struggles against foreign invasion and against exploitation and oppression. For example, in the war against Japanese pirates in the Ming Dynasty, the Tujia people feared no sacrifice and bravely killed the enemy, making the pirates tremble with fear at the news. Historical records state that the Tujia were "fierce and vigorous in courage," and that Tujia soldiers were "unmatched in strength under heaven." (4) A character of sincerity, simplicity, warmth, and kindness. The Tujia treat people sincerely and stress credibility in interpersonal dealings; once they make a promise to someone, even a thousand pieces of gold will not change it. Historical books of successive dynasties all considered the Tujia "simple and honest," as recorded in the Tongzhi-era Yongshun County Gazetteer: "The Tujia people fear officials, are weak and gentle, simple and honest." Long-term engagement in farming also made the Tujia realize that one sowing brings one harvest, and that being down-to-earth is the most reliable way to act; any empty talk is of no help to production and life. Therefore, it can be considered that agricultural life shaped their simple and pragmatic ethnic character. In daily life, they live simply, dress plainly, do not indulge in vanity, seek truth and practicality, value simplicity, guard against extravagance, and have simple folk customs. "The folk customs are honest and generous, and do not esteem extravagance"; "The deeper one goes into the mountains, the richer the simplicity." The Tujia treat people warmly and are kind to others. If outsiders visit, they are always treated with the courtesy due to honored guests. "Gathering wealth every day will not make one rich; entertaining guests every day will not make one poor" is the standard of life believed in by the Tujia in dealing with people and matters. (5) A readiness to learn. Although the Tujia live in isolated mountainous areas, their thinking is not conservative, and they are happy to learn foreign cultures. For example, with regard to Han culture, the Tujia always studied and absorbed it with a positive attitude. During the Tusi period, Tujia tusi in various places recognized the positive role of Han culture in the progress of the Tujia and social development, and studied Han culture "without stopping in cold or heat." They both actively went to Han areas to study Han culture and invited Han intellectuals into their regions to spread Han culture, widely absorbing Han production methods and learning Han literature and art, science and technology, and so on, thereby enriching their own cultural content and broadening their cultural horizons. If these excellent cultures are inherited and carried forward under new historical conditions, this can not only improve the cultural quality of the Tujia themselves, giving them a completely new cultural outlook, but also enrich Chinese national culture, making it more vigorous and vital.
Second, eliminate the dross of Tujia culture. There are many backward elements in traditional Tujia culture, and to realize the modernization of traditional culture, these backward elements must be eliminated. (1) Superstitious thinking. In traditional Tujia culture, the custom of "believing in shamans and worshipping ghosts" is rather strong. People believe that "three feet below a bowed head there are spirits," and "believe in shamans but not in medicine." In daily life such as farming and building houses, they are accustomed to consulting immortals and seeking gods. This kind of thinking is not conducive to the spread of science and technology in Tujia areas and should be eliminated. (2) Valuing agriculture and slighting commerce. As an agricultural ethnic group, due to long-term relatively closed agricultural life and the slow development of the commodity economy, the Tujia formed the idea of valuing agriculture and slighting commerce. Many people did not attach importance to commerce, believing that "of the seventy-two trades, farming is the strongest"; "whether a shopkeeper or a traveling merchant, it is not as good as reclaiming land"; "business buying and selling is like flowers before the gate, but the hoe striking the ground supports the whole family." This concept hindered the development of the commodity economy. (3) Being content with the status quo and lacking sufficient enterprise. The Tujia lived for a long time in a relatively closed environment and led a self-sufficient small-peasant life. This way of life easily made people content with the status quo, unwilling to strive forward, and formed a psychology of self-satisfaction, so that they had no higher demands in life. This kind of thinking runs counter to the spirit of the times, which advocates competition and enterprise. (4) The idea of being attached to the native land and reluctant to move. The traditional plural and composite economy of the Tujia had strong independence and adaptability, enabling the Tujia to live independently without relying on the outside world, and from this arose the psychology of being attached to the native land and reluctant to move. In addition, feudal rulers of successive dynasties implemented the ethnic isolation policy of "the barbarians do not leave the territory, and the Han do not enter the caves," which made the Tujia have fewer contacts with the outside world, strengthening their psychology of being attached to the native land and reluctant to move. Many people regarded their living area as "a land of joy, and could not bear to move elsewhere." Bamboo-branch songs of the Tujia in the Qing Dynasty depicted this mentality: "The customs have no excess and the government has no harshness; chickens and dogs, mulberries and hemp are all in great harmony. Ask whether you believe it is Peach Blossom Spring: few leave the mountains, many enter them." "I urge my husband never to go west to Sichuan; I urge my husband never to go down to Zhuxi. Though west Sichuan is good, the wind and waves are dangerous; though Zhuxi is good, there is parting." To this day in Tujia areas there is still the saying, "A good knife must use steel; a good son does not leave his village."
It should be pointed out that the negative factors in traditional Tujia culture were formed over a long period and are relatively stable. To completely change them cannot be accomplished overnight, but requires long-term unremitting effort. At the same time, some negative elements in Tujia culture are often linked with the ethnic group's beliefs and worship, and these beliefs, worship, and major folk customs occupy an important place in the life of the ethnic group. Improperly changing them may hurt ethnic feelings. Therefore, the reform of ethnic culture must be carried out steadily and must absolutely avoid being crude and simplistic. In addition, some folk cultures contain both positive elements and negative factors. Reforming these cultures requires concrete analysis and flexible treatment, and they cannot be totally negated.
Third, give play to the role of the excellent culture of the Tujia ethnic group in modernization. First, publicize the cultural achievements and fine traditions of the Tujia ethnic group, and comprehensively inspire the national spirit. To achieve comprehensive social and economic development, the Tujia people must foster a national spirit of unremitting self-improvement. At present, in some places, cadres and the masses, faced with harsh environments and a backward foundation, feel considerable fear of difficulties and lack confidence in shaking off poverty and becoming prosperous, with a serious mentality of "waiting, relying, and demanding." Inspiring the national spirit is imperative. By displaying the brilliant cultural achievements of the Tujia ethnic group, we can enhance the national self-esteem and pride of Tujia cadres and masses; by publicizing the patriotic spirit of the Tujia ethnic group in history and introducing stories of the Tujia people's diligence, bravery, unremitting self-improvement, and hard struggle, we can help the Tujia people build self-confidence and actively face the great tide of the socialist market economy. Second, fully give play to the educational and publicity function of Tujia culture, and vigorously carry out the building of socialist spiritual civilization. The traditional culture of the Tujia ethnic group contains many positive and healthy ideas and codes of conduct, such as being kind to others, honesty and trustworthiness, and respecting the elderly and caring for the young. Such values are embodied in different folk cultures. For example, in the Tujia hand-waving activity, there are lyrics such as: "Sweep out evil gods and wild ghosts, sweep out thieves and petty criminals, invite in ancestors of past generations, invite in those who keep to their duties, invite in the diligent and hardworking, invite in all that is good." These lyrics actually make the good feel proud and the evil feel ashamed, and have an educational function. When carrying out the building of socialist spiritual civilization, on the one hand, we should inherit and carry forward these positive and progressive ideas in traditional ethnic culture and conduct ideological education among the people; on the other hand, we should use ethnic culture, especially folk activities loved by the broad masses, to publicize the Party's lines, principles, and policies, and to publicize new socialist ideas and new trends, so that the Tujia people establish a concept of the rule of law, a concept of the market economy, and an awareness of social morality, comprehensively promoting the building of socialist spiritual civilization in Tujia areas. Third, use traditional culture to spread scientific knowledge. The traditional culture of the Tujia ethnic group contains much life experience and scientific knowledge accumulated over the long term by the Tujia people. For example, Tujia proverbs say: "When clouds face east, it will be bright and clear; when clouds face west, put on a straw rain cape; when clouds face south, a boat will capsize; when clouds go north, the rain will not stop." "When there is rain, the mountain wears a hat; when there is no rain, the mountain wears a belt." "Better to plant autumn sweet potato than autumn buckwheat." These proverbs actually have the function of spreading knowledge of astronomy, meteorology, and agricultural production. Such knowledge still has a certain role in today's society. In addition, we can use some forms of Tujia culture to spread modern scientific knowledge. For example, through opera, sanbanggu, yugu, and mountain songs, we can introduce modern agricultural production knowledge, promote production techniques, introduce experience in shaking off poverty and becoming prosperous, and promote economic construction in Tujia areas. In addition, use traditional Tujia culture to enrich people's daily cultural life. In traditional Tujia culture, activities such as pole climbing, pole pushing, and antiphonal singing are traditional forms of entertainment for the Tujia people. At present, in Tujia areas, especially in the vast rural areas, people's cultural life is relatively monotonous, there are relatively few forms of entertainment, and spiritual life is rather dull. We can absolutely enrich the cultural life of today's Tujia masses by exploring the entertaining resources in traditional Tujia culture.