Black glutinous rice

Black glutinous rice

　　Black glutinous rice

　　This festival is observed by She ethnic groups throughout various regions. On this day, every household prepares black glutinous rice to pay respects to their ancestors, shares a communal meal, and gives the rice as gifts to family and friends. The origin of eating black rice on the third day of the third lunar month is tied to a popular legend: the hero Lei Wanxing (also said to be Lan Tianfeng) was captured by the authorities. To help him survive in prison, the villagers dyed the rice black. The guards, mistaking the dark rice for dirt or mountain ants, refused to take it, thereby protecting Lei Wanxing. After his release, on the third day of the third lunar month, he led everyone in descending the mountain, and following their victory, they cooked black glutinous rice in celebration.

　　Since then, every year on the third day of the third lunar month, people eat black glutinous rice. Folklore also says that eating it protects you from ant bites in the mountains, and that since the third day of the third lunar month is considered the birthday of the grain spirit, the darkened rice prevents the spirit from recognizing it, thus encouraging growth.

　　Black glutinous rice is made by pounding the leaves of the Vaccinium bracteatum plant, soaking them in water, straining out the solids, and then using the resulting liquid to soak the glutinous rice before steaming it.

　　Another version of the story says the origins of the Black Rice Festival date back to the Tang Dynasty, when the She hero Lei Wanxing led his people in resisting oppressive government rule. Besieged by imperial troops in the mountains with no food supplies, the soldiers survived by eating wild berries from a plant called Vaccinium bracteatum. Eventually, the She army broke through the siege and won the battle. On the third day of the third lunar month the following year, Lei Wanxing suddenly craved those berries and ordered his men to gather them from the mountains. But by then it was spring, and only fresh green leaves were available. The soldiers picked the leaves and steamed them with glutinous rice, and to their surprise, the resulting dish was fragrant and delicious. Pleased with the taste, Lei Wanxing decreed that black glutinous rice should be steamed every year on the third day of the third lunar month. This custom has been passed down to today, becoming an important annual festival for the She people to commemorate the hero and honor their ancestors.