Guzang Festival is a very important and unique festival of the Miao minority group. There are many records of the use of the two characters known as “Gu” and “Zang”. Some people say they are related to drums, while some others they are related to what Miao people worship, which are bulls. Despite all this, it is the oldest festival of the Miao culture.
The festival is held by different villages every 12 years in a 13-year cycle. There are many sayings for the origin of this festival, one of which goes like this: There was a beautiful Miao girl called Pang Qiao. She got caught by a tiger who disguised itself as a human being. A man named Bao Geng saved Pang Qiao by efforts that involved not telling the girl his name. To find her savior, she collected Lusheng, drums, and so on for people to gather to sing and dance. Among the people who came to watch, Pang Qiao found her savior. Pang Qiao experienced 3 years of difficulties. She spent 6 years to find Bao Geng and it took 3 years for her father to test Bao Geng. Altogether, it took 12 years for them to finally get married to each other. No matter what kind of origin this festival is to celebrate harvest and commemorate ancestors.
The Guzang Festival reflects social values of the Miao people, focusing on themes of ancestor worship, harmonious community, hard work, austerity, peace and happiness. There is practical value for the study of history and culture of the Miao ethnic group.
