Miao Village Gate-Blocking Wine
Gate-blocking wine is an ancient custom of Miao villages, most prevalent and distinctive in the Bagu Miao Village. When Miao families marry, relatives and friends come bearing gifts to offer congratulations. The hospitable hosts and generous relatives always make the happy occasion dignified and lively, and always take the good opportunity to display their wealth and make friends.
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 Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated.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.
The gate-blocking wine is an ancient custom of Miao villages, and among them the Bagugu Miao village is the most prevalent and distinctive. When Miao people marry or take a bride, relatives and friends all come to offer gifts and congratulations. The hospitable host and the virtuous, generous relatives and friends always want to make this happy occasion respectable and lively, and at the same time always want to take this good opportunity to display their wealth and make many friends. The host, using the corn liquor prepared well in advance, invites the respected clan elders and song masters of the village, and sets up a large square table at the entrance of the house, with bowls of fragrant fine wine covering the table. When guests arrive, the clan elder in charge of the gate first sings words of congratulation, and then the oldest and most prestigious elder among the guests sings words of thanks.
Words of Congratulation:
Most respected guests,
You do not fear the hardships of the journey,
And come to this poor place of ours,
Though the mountain roads are narrow and steep,
There are always stone steps for you to rest your feet,
Though the mud is dirty and slippery,
The bluestone path is steady and shining.
Your arrival
Has added boundless joy to the neglected Miao village,
The golden pheasant behind the house,
It is welcoming you honored guests.
Though the Miao village is remote and poor,
Every Miao family has a warm heart.
There is nothing fine with which to receive you,
But Miao corn liquor is especially sweet and fragrant.
Gate-blocking wine is the highest courtesy of the Miao people in receiving guests,
Please do not be alarmed.
A bowl of wine is the deep affection of the Miao family,
A bowl of wine is a warm heart the Miao family offers you.
After drinking this sweet gate-blocking wine,
Your face will glow with the red light of happiness.
After drinking this fragrant gate-blocking wine,
Your noble body will become even healthier and stronger.
After drinking this bowl of one-heart wine,
Our hearts will be drawn closer together,
And our friendship will deepen further.
Words of Thanks:
Most honored hosts,
Your hospitality is so thoughtful,
Your warmth is so persistent and sincere.
Though we are strangers from afar,
Here we feel as close as family.
What of the Miao villages being remote and backward?
Here every place is filled with scenes of happiness,
What of the Miao villages having no fine gifts to offer?
A friendly people has let us experience true friendship in this world.
Corn liquor sprays a fragrance that assails the nose,
Wave after wave warming our fiery hearts,
This is a fine, fine gift indeed,
Let us taste it to our heart's content.
The golden pheasant in the purple bamboo grove,
Calls out joyfully again and again,
Bringing happiness and good fortune to the Miao village.
We distant guests have come to the Miao village today,
Bringing joy and well-being to the Miao village.
Taking bowl after bowl of fragrant corn liquor,
Let us drink deeply and taste it together,
The good days of the Miao village are as rich as corn liquor.
May our friendship last forever.
After the congratulatory and thank-you speeches, the host asks the guests the questions he has long prepared about farming, family matters, or important daily affairs. The guests answer as they are asked, and then the clan chief respectfully raises a cup filled with corn wine in both hands and hands it to an elderly guest, letting the guests drink cup after cup of this fragrant, mellow corn liquor. When all the rituals are done, he says, "Forgive me, most honored guests," and the guests reply, "Please don't be so polite—we are all one family." At this point, the wine gate opens wide, and the gate-blockers politely step aside to make a path and welcome the guests into the house.
The custom of the gate-blocking wine is very primitive and ancient, and it reflects the Miao people's fine moral style of treating guests with courtesy and making friends with sincerity.