Hezhe ethnic group: Investigation in Jiajinkou Village, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province

Author: Huang Ze / Liu Jinming (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The Hezhe people have a long history and share close ethnic origins with ancient Chinese Northeast tribes such as the Sushen, Yilou, Weji, and Nuzhen. During the Qing Dynasty, the "Hejin" and "Hezhehala" were ancestors of the Hezhe people. The Hezhe people have their own language, Hezhen, which belongs to the Manchu-Tungusic branch of the Altaic language family, but they do not have their own writing system. Most Hezhe people use Chinese characters. The Hezhe people practice Shamanism and believe in the animism of all things. The Hezhe people are the only ethnic group in northern China that lives by fishing and uses dog-drawn sleds for transportation. Fish, the main dish on the dining table of Hezhe people who rely on fishing and hunting for their livelihood, are indispensable. They have many ways of eating fish, and it is quite (). They usually eat fresh fish daily, some roast fish skewered on a spit, while others steam it. The Hezhe people enjoy eating raw fish, and "shacha shengyu" (raw fish marinated in vinegar) and "cold raw fish salad" are their specialty dishes. "Chao yumao" (fried fish hair) is also a delicious dish of the Hezhe people. It involves cutting fresh, tender, and fatty fish into thin strands and stir-frying them with seasonings to make "tushan" (fish hair), which is not only delicious to eat but also remains fresh for a long time without spoiling. During the fishing season, they sun-dry or roast fish to preserve them for consumption during the off-season. The place where the Hezhe people store fish is called a "yulou" (fish tower), which is usually built in the courtyard of their homes, with almost every family having one. It is also used to store fishing tools and other items. Dog-drawn sleds are the main means of transportation for the Hezhe people. Trained dogs can pull about 70 kilograms each and travel 100 to 150 kilometers daily. Dogs are excellent helpers to the Hezhe people, playing important roles in transportation, hunting, guarding homes, and protecting their owners. Fishing and hunting are the economic sources that sustain the Hezhe people. Through long-term fishing practices, they have accumulated rich fishing experience and developed highly skilled fishing techniques, employing various methods and tools. Their fishing tools are mainly divided into three categories: spears, hooks, and nets. Their spear-fishing skills are truly remarkable—accurate and steady, with a success rate of 100%. The Hezhe people have also created the "gan gou diyua" (dry hook fishing) method, a unique technique of fishing through holes drilled in the ice-covered river surface. This method is loved and mastered by both men and women of all ages in the Hezhe community, as it not only brings material rewards but also offers spiritual enjoyment. Fishing and hunting are the primary sources of food and clothing for the Hezhe people. They not only eat fish and game meat but also wear clothes mostly made of fishskin, roe deer skin, and deer skin. Men typically wear large-collared roe deer skin coats, adorned with two rows of buttons made from pike bones, while women often wear fishskin or deer skin long dresses that resemble the Chinese cheongsam. Both men and women wear fishskin leggings and shoes made of fishskin, roe deer skin, deer skin, and fishskin. Making fishskin clothing is a special skill of the Hezhe women. The Urgun Festival is a newly emerged holiday among the Hezhe people, originating in 1985. "Urgun" means a sports or cultural gathering, held every two years, usually in May or June of the lunar calendar, lasting for three days. The festival features a rich variety of activities, including various ethnic sports competitions, as well as lively communal feasts and banquets. At the Urgun Festival, the Hezhe people's oral narrative literature, "Imakan," is particularly popular among the crowd. "Imakan" is an epic narrative passed down orally by the Hezhe people, with over 50 existing classic texts, hailed as a "living fossil" of primitive language art in northern Asia. It tells heroic stories of tribal wars, the rise and fall of nations, the defense of ethnic dignity and territorial integrity, praises pure love, and narrates shamanic rituals and folk customs. Sometimes, a single performance can last for several days. The Hezhe people love music and are skilled at singing, with many folk songs passed down through generations. These songs are melodious, graceful, and full of passion.