Life, Season And Ecology - A Study On Miao 's Rice Culture In Qingshui River Valley

In this dissertation I argue that for the Miao people(also known as Hmong) in Qingshui River area, east Guizhou province, rice is not only a basic food resource for daily life but also related to the ecology in both natural and cultural ways. Rice has become a cultural symbol of Miao people. Things related to rice constitute the foundation of Miao’s tradition culture, which embody in many way like holidays,life rites and celebrations rituals as well as religion. Also, rice is a mediation in the exchange system between human being, god and ghost which construct the social and cultural structure in Miao’s society.In natural ecosystems, the biological properties of rice determine that it requires a lot of labor in the three important stages of terraces construction, cultivation of rice grain and harvesting, especially the traditional glutinous bluegrass picking. Social grouping of Miao people just provide sufficient labor resources for rice growth.Classification of rice, paddy selection, water storage and maintenance, and the livelihoods of rice-cum-fish pattern reflect both the value and application of indigenous knowledge in the natural ecological environment in the region. Rice not only represents the life cycle of the plant itself, but also on behalf of the Miao population, because the main source of food of the group is rice, so life will throughout the natural ecology and human ecology. Rice life-cycle needs based on certain climate, soil, water, light and other natural conditions, so the traditional calendar in agricultural production becomes particularly important. In the past years,the seasons of Miao people were divided into warm and cool, which provide time for the regulatory sequence of rice grown.Festivals in turn between different villages made their recreational activities more colorful during the period of slack season,specially bullfight, dance and singing. Activities are organized to avoid the busy seasons, and the names of festivals are named around the growth of rice, for example,eating new rice festival, zongba festival. In addition, almost without exception, every festival has a link around the rice culture in order to pray for good weather and bumper harvest. The difference of festivals between villages in Miao regions areaffected by traditional festival calendar, and it is only this difference reflects that the unity and internal consistency of the Miao follow the law. Turns festive of ethnic group activities not only plays an important positive role to enhance internal emotional and self-identity, but also demonstrates the strong vitality of the Miao community.Endless reproduction of life represents a hope and future for one ethnic group,the Miao community regards life and death very seriously. Miao people in Qingshui River basin is a mountain rice ethnic, born, marriage and death are closely related to the rice culture, and rice is considered as an important medium of communication in the life of the liturgy. Rice exchange itself has been given an important social value and significance, the social culture and structural patterns behind the exchange are more concerned. Rice itself has biological adhesion, and which stand for the forces in groups. Miao people achieve the social contract and cultural consensus through social grouping and gift exchange, so as to play a positive role in building the proper functioning of agricultural production and the local social order. Participation in collective ritual life is based on kinship, geographical, genetic, and the root causes of such groups model is the rice culture. Rice production requires a stable social structure and mutual aid groups, so the natural ecology has a significant impact on the human ecology and restricts Miao groups. But nature and society is a dynamic process of interaction and inter-amalgamation. With the development of economic and the progress of society, more and more people are breaking the old patterns of livelihood,singleness of cultivation and barren land of paddy are becoming common phenomenon in many villages, and the symbolic of rice culture is also quietly changing.Today, Miao people in Qingshui River area are facing huge pressure of social development and change. The technology of planting rice and the exchange system between nature and culture are much different than the old days. However, rice culture still survive in Miao’s society and play a vital role on moral and social control.I argue the rice culture of the Miao people in Qingshui River area still keep its unique value and function and will not fade away in the foreseeing future. In recent years, thegovernment in promoting the beautiful countryside, and strengthening the protection of traditional ancient villages, there are many scholars, the village elite and the local people have invested in the ranks of the protection of traditional culture in the village.Through the research and exploration of the Miao symbol in Qingshui river basin, so that more people awareness and understanding, and ultimately achieve the overlapping consensus culture between the different ethnic groups, respecting to each other, working together to build a harmonious cultural ecology country nationals. We believe, our joint efforts will enable that the rural development is not only defensible mountains of our precious natural resources, but also defensible precious cultural nostalgia.