Pumi Nationality: Offsprings Of Ancient Qiang People
Pumis, the descendants of the ancient Qiangs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, have a population of 32,900, most of whom live in Lanping County and Ninglang County in Northwest Yunnan. Besides Hangui, a primitive religion, Pumis in Ninglang also believe in Tibetan Lamaism. When dusk falls, Pumis will dance “Chacuo” with the accompaniment of bamboo flutes. “”Chacuo is a traditional Pumi song-and-dance performance.
The Beautiful Pumi Clothes and Ornaments
Pumi’s clothes and ornaments have their own local feature, which is revealed mainly in the clothes and ornaments worn by Pumi women. The girls wear a red vest over her underclothes and a colorful apron. Pumi women pay great attention to their headwear and regard long pigtails and more hair as the symbol of beauty. They often braid some yak tails or black silk-threads into their pigtails which are shaped into a circle on the head. Their popular ornaments are earrings, jade pendants, bracelets and rings made from different materials.
"Wuxi": Pumi’s New Year
"Wuxi” means the celebration of the New Year. Pumi’s New Year, different from others, usually starts on lunar January 8th. On this occasion, the men are busy preparing bacon, fire-wood, pine torches and cooking utensils. The women are busy preparing bean-curd, fried cakes and Pumi wine. They often visit other villages to express their blessing for an auspicious new year. The festal atmosphere is heightened by shooting contest, horse-race and wrestling.
The Locking of the Matchmaker: An Interesting Pumi Marriage Custom
The locking of the matchmaker is an interesting Pumi marriage custom. Three days before the wedding, the bridegroom will ask the matchmaker to send gifts to the bride. On the early morning of the wedding day, accompanied by relatives and friends, the bride will come to the bridegroom’s house but the matchmaker is locked in a room with a singer from the bride’s family. The two will have an antiphonal singing contest. If the matchmaker has won, the guarding girl will open the door and let the matchmaker go after the bride. If the matchmaker fails, he has to ask for forgiveness by proposing a toast or offering a little money to the bride’s parents before leaving the bride’s house.
