Whenever we think of China’s dog festivals, the first thing that may come to our mind is the annual dog-meat eating ritual (the Yulin Dog Meat Festival), something most of us would find difficult to stomach. But not all dog festivals in China are gruesome
Whenever we think of China’s dog festivals, the first thing that may come to our mind is the annual dog-meat eating ritual (the Yulin Dog Meat Festival), something most of us would find difficult to stomach. But not all dog festivals in China are gruesome and gut-wrenching.
Photo: mothership
On Sept. 2, an ethnic minority in China, the Miao, celebrated a festival in Jianhe county (Guizhou province) where dogs were accorded gratitude, respect and worship.
Saviour to their ancestors
According to ancient Miao folklore, their ancestors were once at the brink of death as they were unable to find a good source of water to quench their thirst and grow their crops.
This was a common phenomenon in Guizhou province, as the region suffers from water shortages due to its karst landscape made up of soluble rocks that cause the land to be dry and without much moisture.
It was then that dogs came to the rescue.
These dogs led the Miao’s ancestors to a water source and saved the lineage of the ethnic group.
Since then, the Miao started to worship dogs as heaven-sent canines.
Photo: mothership
The Celebration
During the annual “Dog-Carrying Festival”, the village’s dogs are dressed up in clothing and hats.
One chosen dog is dressed in a special tailor-made shirt and placed on a sedan chair made of freshly cut bamboo poles.
After that it is worshipped as a god by the Miao villagers who carry it over their shoulders across rice paddy fields.
Photo:mothership
A shaman leads the procession with a black sceptre, while the rest of the villagers sing along to the beat of drums.
They also throw mud at each other as a prayer for health, prosperity and peace.
Other rituals are also observed, such as the “blocking the gate” ritual where Miao women will stand at the gate to Jianhe county and pour wine for each other.
