Village Bird-Fighting Gatherings
In the lofty mountains of Zhangjiajie, Tujia villages often hold bird-fighting gatherings. On that day, hundreds of bird cages hang along both sides of the village's stone-paved paths, stretching all the way to the tea hills behind the village. "Ge di! Ge di!" "Gui gui yang! Gui gui yang!" "Guai guai ni de! Guai guai ni de!" "..." The air is filled with the sounds of birds.
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 Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated.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.
Mountain Village Bird-Fighting Gatherings
In the lofty mountains and steep ridges of Zhangjiajie, Tujia villages often hold bird-fighting gatherings.
On the day of the bird-fighting gathering, hundreds of bird cages are hung along both sides of the stone-paved paths of the village, stretching all the way to the tea hill behind the village. "Ge di! Ge di!" "Gui gui yang! Gui gui yang!" "Guai guai ni de! Guai guai ni de!" "..." The air is filled with the joyful calls of birds. At this time, the owners of the cages, wearing smug expressions, each dance and gesture as they tell onlookers all sorts of strange tales about how they caught their birds, showing off their birds' abilities. Almost no bird keeper fails to boast about his bird. Some even openly hang out signs like "Tiger of the Whole Town," "Roaring Lion," and "King of the Mountain," doing their utmost to put "gold" on their own birds.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The three-barreled gun fires—this is the signal for the bird fight to begin. There are many categories of bird fighting: pheasant fights, myna fights, bamboo partridge fights, owl fights, and so on, but the most spectacular is the thrush fight. People select two thrushes and place their cages on a high table, the two cages close together, cage doors touching. If they are first-rate fighters, before the fight they will keep calling and jumping—this is called "beating back is not as good as frightening back." Many timid thrushes, before even entering the arena, tuck in their necks and tremble, admitting defeat. This is the first round of elimination, called "spirit fight" and "energy fight." After several rounds of screening, when the two selected birds are evenly matched, the second round of elimination begins—the duel. In duels, some open the first door for a face-to-face fight, while others open the second door and fight from one cage into the other—this is the most thrilling form of combat. You see, as soon as the cage door opens, the fiercest one pounces like an arrow into the opponent's cage. Sometimes it pecks at the opponent's head, called "striking the headband"; sometimes it pecks specifically at the opponent's eyes, called "two dragons seizing the pearl"; sometimes the two beaks press against each other, beak pecking beak, called "striking the through-beak"; sometimes it bites the opponent's belly with its beak and drags it to one side, called "braiding the ox"; there is also pecking at the legs, called "striking the split leg," and pecking at the wings, called "striking the split wing"; when both sides tightly embrace and roll all over the cage, it is called "rolling the embroidered ball"; if one bites the opponent and drags it from that cage to this cage, it is called "rolling cage fight"—this is the final move that decides victory or defeat. All kinds of fighting techniques, endlessly varied, make one dazzled and unable to take it all in. The spectators sometimes hold their breath in silence, secretly cheering, and sometimes burst out with loud exclamations and strange cries! The thrush owners, though outwardly calm, have their hearts in their throats. Truly it can be said: "At that moment the situation is most perilous and urgent, the rise and fall of Liu and Xiang hang by a breath; seize the moment and use Kuai Tong's stratagem, as Chu and Han contend and stand side by side."
The thrush's love of fighting is the most famous among all birds. Sometimes a single thrush can fight several rounds in a row; even if not a single feather remains on its body, with skin broken and blood flowing, it still struggles on unyieldingly. Every drop of their blood and every feather is something Tujia men relish talking about and regard with deep respect. No wonder that after a Tujia baby reaches one hundred days old, thrush soup must be brewed for it to taste, saying it can grow a "thrush's gall," so that in the future it will not fear being bullied by villains. After several hours of fierce battle, a few thrushes defeat all rivals and ascend the victor's throne. When the judge announces this result, thousands of spectators cheer in celebration, and firecrackers resound like thunder. The head of the bird-fighting gathering solemnly drapes red and colored ribbons on the winner's cage and presents prizes and prize money to the bird's owner.
In the Tujia bird villages, the success or failure of bird fighting is also tied to the bird owner's prestige and honor! Girls in the bird villages like to look for a partner at the bird-fighting arena. Many young men, in order to win the village "flower," must spend half a year or several years training a thrush. Therefore, the bird-fighting gathering has also become a matchmaking gathering, quite reminiscent of the ancient custom of Tujia ancestors shooting eagles on the hunting ground to decide marriage.