Jinning Rooster Hat

Jinning Rooster Hat

　　Legend of the Jinning Rooster Hat: The ancestors of the Yi people migrated from far away to Yunnan in search of a fertile land. They walked countless miles until they finally found a place with green mountains, lush grass, and rich soil. They settled there, built houses, cultivated fields, and their lives gradually improved. But little did they know that this was the territory of the Centipede King, who would never allow humans to live there. He ordered all the centipedes to attack the Yi people. In no time, countless centipedes swarmed out from the mountains and fields, biting and stinging everyone they saw. Caught off guard, the people hastily evacuated the village and retreated far away. Just when they were at a loss, an older Han Chinese man driving horses passed by. The Yi people asked him if he had any way to deal with the centipedes. The Han man said he did, and proceeded to tell them a story: Once upon a time, the centipede and the rooster were good friends. One day, the centipede was going to visit a friend and felt its appearance was too plain, so it borrowed the rooster’s comb. Without hesitation, the rooster took off its beautiful red comb and lent it to the centipede. The centipede wore the bright red comb to the gathering and received many compliments on its good looks. But upon returning, the centipede refused to give the comb back, wanting to keep it forever. When the rooster asked for it back, the centipede pretended not to hear and ran away. The rooster chased after it, and seeing trouble ahead, the centipede quickly ducked into a crack in a rock. The crack was very small, and as the centipede squeezed in, its body was flattened and it could never return to its original shape. From then on, the rooster and the centipede became bitter enemies, and the rooster would peck to death any centipede it saw. After the story, the Han man drove his horses away. Inspired by the tale, the Yi people raised many chickens and let them loose in the mountains. Before long, the centipedes were all eaten, and the people returned to their homeland. To show their gratitude to the chickens, the Yi people specially embroidered rooster comb hats, which young women wear to this day and have been passed down through generations.