The Dai Garden of Xishuangbanna
The Dai Garden of Xishuangbanna is located at Menghan (Ganlanba) and 28 kilometers from Jinghong, the capital city of Xishuangbanna. It is a national 4A level tourist attraction.
Within this garden, there are 5 Dai natural villages, the best preserved ones in Xishuangbanna. They are Manjiang Village (bamboo sheath village), Manchunman Village (garden village), Manzha Village (chef village), Manga Village (marketing village) and Manting Village (palace garden village). The whole garden has integrated the natural and humanistic scene of Xishuangbanna Prefecture. It is surrounded by rivers and lakes, nestled in green trees, sent forth the fragrance from fruits and flowers, curled up the Sanskrit tone, giving visitors a mystical and auspicious feeling. The 5 villages are now inhabited by 1,536 people from 326 families. Here people live harmoniously with each other, so are man and nature. It is the Dai’s Mengbalanaxi (meaning glary, ideal and mystery in Dai language), and the earthly paradise of the Dai’s. It is also a place to experience exotic living habits, to appreciate a typical bamboo house-on-poles, traditional handicrafts, folk songs and dances, as well as the mysterious Southern Buddhist culture. Now we will visit the Manjiang Village. In Dai language, “man” means village and “jiang” means bamboo laps or sets dedicated to lift up big stones. “Manjiang” refers to bamboo village. The Dai houses are the unique two-storied bamboo buildings on poles, a typical residential building style popular in tropical area. Building as such is cool in summer and warm in winter. The downstairs generally serves as the storage house while the upstairs is used as the living room. Bedrooms are separated from the sitting room by bamboos boards. In the middle of the sitting room is a bonfire while is regarded as a symbol of happiness and prosperity of the whole family. For this reason, any striding over the bonfire is impolite.
The whole family shares one bedroom, only separated by mosquito nets of different colors. Usually deep colored nets are used by the married, while white or light colored ones are used by the unmarried. Bedrooms are regarded as a mysterious place and no peering is allowed by strangers. Visitors to the family will be accommodated in the sitting room. Generally speaking, residential houses for Dai people are ventilated, pleasantly cool and wet-proof. They are also easy to build. The bamboo house is the dwelling place of the Dais while the Buddhist temple is a
habitat of the soul of the Dais. The Dais in Xishuangbanna worship Southern Buddhism, so where there is a village there is a Buddhist temple. There are taboos to be avoided when visiting a Buddhist temple. Visitors should shut their mouths so as not to make irresponsible remarks; Worshiping the Buddha definitely needs sincere desire, and then sincerity works miracles. On this there are several taboos: no touching on a monk’s head and cassock, no patting on the shoulder and body, no gesticulating in front of the image of the Buddha, no striking on the Buddhist drum, gong and other musical instruments of the temple.
Dai people are known to believe in southern Buddhism. Southern Buddhism believes that Sakyamuni is the patriarch or teacher, so the Buddha Statue in the temples is more human-like in size, figure and facial expression. And Southern Buddhism requires that a man be a monk for a period of time in his life in order to learn religious knowledge as well as cultural knowledge. For Dai people, Buddhist temple is not only a place for worshiping Buddha, but also a school for boys. The process of being monks is period for Dai boys to learn knowledge and experience their monkhood before the age 17.
Now we are going to the largest open air theatre of Yunnan tourist area--- Mengbalanaxi Theater. It is where visitors appreciate Dai songs and dance while having a rest. Some Dai folk dances includes peacock dance, candle-bar dance, long fingernail dance, fish dance, knife dance, stick dance and fist dance, which covey unique styles of the Dais. The well-known dancers Dao Meilan and Yang Liping are regarded as two golden peacocks flying out from Xishuangbanna. Also we can join in the Eastern Carnival —Watersplashing Festival in the Dai Garden.
Water-Splashing Festival falls in mid April and lasts for three days. It is not only a traditional gala for Dai people but also a carnival in the East. It is the New Year for Dai people. Dai people celebrate this festival with dragon boat races, throwing pouches (a bag (pouch)-throwing contest for finding a sweetheart) and shooting “gaosheng” (local firecracker). On the second day, the Dais often hold sand-piling and chicken-fighting activities while the third day is a time for Dai people to express good wishes to each other. It is believed that the King of Dai arrives and the Dai people are sure to give the Buddha a bath and they get together, sprinkle water on each other for a blessing. Here people can splash water on their loved ones and close friends, washing away the worries and troubles. Young girls would gently sprinkle water on visitors from afar, wishing them good luck and happiness.
Dai people often say, “The more splashing water one gets, the luckier he becomes”. Basins of sacred water would bring happiness and make one forget all the worries. This activity and the cultural elements it contains impresses tourists from around the world.
西双版纳傣族园英语导游词
