Folk Customs of Jinggangshan

Digging winter bamboo shoots is a popular gathering activity among the Hakka farmers in Huang'ao, Ciping, Changping, Xiaqi and surrounding mountain areas. Winter bamboo shoots start to grow after the eleventh lunar month. Local Hakka people head into the mountains with baskets on their backs and hoes in hand to dig for shoots.

Shredded sweet potato rice was the staple food in the Jinggangshan mountain region in old times. Before the liberation, a folk ballad prevailed locally: "Sweet potato rice cooked over charcoal flame,

I live as happy as immortals claim." The ballad reflects the poor living conditions back then and the mountain dwellers' wish to secure basic food and clothing.

The spoon mortar was a rice-husking tool used by Hakka residents in Jinggangshan. In ancient times, people used stone mortars and wooden pestles to pound grain. Hand-operated mortars and foot treadle mortars were widely used. Based on the foot treadle design, mountain dwellers made an automatic water-powered mortar using the drop of mountain spring water. It could husk one dan of grain a day, saving much labour and time. It was convenient for individual households.

Native local residents liked to starch their quilts with rice soup. The procedure: wash the quilt thoroughly in rivers or ponds, wring it out, put it in a basin, pour in rice soup and knead repeatedly so that the fabric is fully soaked. After wringing once more, hang the quilt out to dry.

Hakka hunters usually went hunting during the slack farming seasons in winter and spring. Hunting parties consisted of 5 to 10 people, sometimes dozens. Upon reaching the hunting ground, they split into two teams. One group kept guard at mountain passes to block animal escape routes. The other beaters, together with hunting dogs, drove game out of the woods.

Native villagers in Jinggangshan observed a series of rituals when constructing new houses, including table-setting, roof-closing, beam-raising and the fire-crossing ceremony.

When firing bricks and tiles, local kiln masters followed age-old traditions known as kiln worship before lighting the fire. The ceremony was mainly held to offer sacrifices to the God of Fire.

Among the Hakka communities in Jinggangshan, there was a long-standing custom. On her wedding day, the bride would bring pre-cooked eggs, pork and other food from her parental home. After arriving at the groom’s house, she would stay in the bridal chamber and refuse any meals prepared by her parents-in-law. No matter how warmly she was invited, even if dishes were sent into the room, she would only eat the food she had brought. This tradition was meant to save delicious food for the new family as a sign of filial piety, winning the affection of her parents-in-law and ensuring long-term family harmony. Even today, many brides still stick to this custom.

Traditional etiquette in Jinggangshan governs social interactions, family life, clan affairs and individual life events. The most important set of rituals are life-cycle ceremonies, which mark every key stage of a person’s life.