The Miao people of Mayang dwell in remote mountainous areas for generations, characterized with a particular folklore and etiquette. When the young meet the old, regardless of gender, they respectfully greet each other and offer the seats. For the same generation, it merely needs to nod and greet with a smile. Between the old and the young, they refer to each other in terms of age and generation. Regardless of gender or closeness, the younger should make way for the older and ask them to take the lead when encountering. When dieting at the same table, the young toast the elderly, reflecting Miao’s traditional virtues of respecting the elderly and cherishing the young.
The Miao people attach great importance to unity, friendship, and mutual support. As the saying goes, “Even an inch of respect will be rewarded.” On the occasion of funeral and wedding ceremonies, however, the voluntary assistance never wants repaid. Furthermore, women are treated with respect due to the gender equality.
Rules for Chicken Eating
A great importance is attached to chickens eating in a feast. Some rules are to be followed when the chicken is placed on the table. Generally, the chicken head and tail are granted to the most respected man at the table. If he is well-mannered, he would separate the chicken head into halves and decline out the lower half to the more privileged one. The organs and blood of chickens are most abundantly supplied to the elderly. If there are several elderly ones at a table, each of them is respectfully offered with blood, liver, stomach, and intestines. Chicken legs and wings are given up to kids, chicken claws and wings to the young, best blessed to travel far and high and make a fortune. It is in the same way in dieting ducks and geese.
Ritual Drinking
Wine is served in treating guests. It invites the distinguished guest to the table, surrounded with senior and junior ones respectively across over, on the left, and on the right. The person sitting across over the table in the right corner is the “cupbearer”. With wine and food on the table, the toast should launch the feast. Generally, the elder are toasted twice. After three rounds of wine, the dieting is resumed at will. The cupbearer invited by the host usually offers a toast to the guests, indicating a friendly greeting. Afterwards, it is suggested by the host or cupbearer to start the meal while drinking. Standing by the table to serve the guests and hosts are the Miao lassies. On the elder’s completion of the feast, the young can still stay at the table, drinking and singing, or drinking while finger-guessing.
In order to bring the drinkers to their heart’s content, various excuses are worked out to urge them to drink. Generally, when the wine in the cup is not drained or the liquor is kept in the mouth and secretly spit out, or offensive manners are committed, or even one fails the finger-guessing game, it is urged to drink more.
(Translated by Tian Xia)