The "Six Villages Miao" of Bafang

　　"Ten thousand pearls in one jar gathered, even the Wing King bowed his head here. Royal soldiers embraced the sky-supporting pillar, drinking the Yellow River’s flow backward." This is the "Za Wine Poem" written by Shi Dakai, the Wing King of the Taiping Rebellion during the late Qing Dynasty, while he was among the Six Villages Miao.

　　The Six Villages Miao spans the Bafang and Xinglong townships of Dafang County, about 60 kilometers from the county seat, and consists of six natural villages. With a history of over 300 years, the Six Villages Miao is steeped in “legend.” Its history dates back to the late Qing Dynasty when the local Miao people rebelled against the Qing; in 1915, more than 100 young Miao from the Six Villages actively joined the "Campaign Against Yuan and for Protecting the Nation"; in 1936, the Red Army's Second and Sixth Corps established the "Six Villages Miao Guerrilla Unit" in the area…

　　Recently, reporters set out from Xin Kai Village in Bafang Township and walked on foot toward the Six Villages. About 1 kilometer east of the village, atop Huajiangzhai Shangzhai, nestled among lush green trees, an ancient thatched cottage stood quietly. Those accompanying explained that this five-pillar, three-bay thatched house with grass-covered boards and bamboo horn corners was built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 200 years. It was the former headquarters of the Six Villages Miao Guerrilla Unit formed by the Red Army.

　　Morning sunlight filtered through the green leaves, dotting the paths, thatched roofs, and farmyards of the Miao village. From time to time, farmers passed by the road with children and livestock, and the busy figures in the rice fields were still faintly visible. Amidst the birdsong and distant singing, the village remained exceptionally tranquil. Several Miao girls chatted and sang as they sat embroidering in the courtyard. Upon seeing visitors, they all turned their backs, too shy to speak. Hung on a nearby bamboo pole were their newly made dresses: pleated skirts in blue, white, and red, intricately embroidered with patterns representing their individual aesthetics and preferences.

　　According to reports, the Six Villages Miao belong to a branch of the Miao ethnic group known as the "Wai Shu Miao," characterized by knee-length skirts and white sashes. Their tops have front and back panels pulled upward and tied with a wide, elegant waistband, also called the "Four-Tile Roof" style. We saw some elderly people dressed in such attire, with small wooden combs diagonally inserted in their hair, giving off a strong three-dimensional artistic feel and presenting a beauty that is both rustic and refined.

　　The people of the Six Villages Miao have a strong sense of protecting their ethnic culture. Many households still preserve numerous relics, such as the horns, battle swords, and homemade cannons gifted by Shi Dakai, as well as the beds and desks used by the Red Army. Moreover, because the Six Villages Miao have not been overly influenced by external cultures, their houses, customs, language, songs and dances, festivals, and production and lifestyle have retained their original forms. "With proper protection, planning, and development, the Six Villages Miao could be a very distinctive tourist attraction," Yang Peng from the Dafang County Cultural Relics Management Office told reporters. Currently, the county is preparing to apply for the Six Villages Miao to be designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit to better preserve the local cultural heritage and historical artifacts.