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Keeping the old ways alive
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DWELLING in northeastern China, the Hezhe people are an ancient group that have kept much of their customs and traditions alive.
With a population of 5,354, most of the Hezhe people live in Tongjiang, Fuyuan, Raohe counties of Heilongjiang while small pockets can be found in the province’s Jiamusi, Fujin, Jixian and Yilan counties.
The Hezhe people belong to an ancient group with a history tracing back 6,000 to 7,000 years. Their ancestors were once called Sushen or Xishen before the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Over the centuries they have also been known as the Yilou, Wuji, Heishuimohe and Nuzhen. The name Hezhe did not appear in historical records until the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The Hezhes have their own language, which belongs to the Manchu-Tungusic group of the Altaic family. There are similarities in pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar among the Hezhe, Manchu, Xibo, Owenk and Oroqen languages. However, the Hezhes don’t have their own writing system. Most Hezhe people today speak Mandarin.
The Hezhes mainly live on a plain where the Heilong, Songhua and Wusuli rivers flow. The mountainous area is good for fishing and hunting, long the traditional way of life for Hezhe people. Policies launched to preserve natural areas like where Hezhe people live mean they have had to change. With the help of the government, the Hezhes have gradually developed a more diverse economy.
Fishing for generations, the Hezhe people have developed more than 10 ways of single hook-fishing. They were also known to practice ice fishing during the winter.
The Hezhe group also uses sleighs with dogs. They are sometimes referred to as the “fish-skin tribe” or the “using-dog tribe.”
They can travel up to 150 kilometers a day on a dog sled during the winter.
Fish plays an important role in their diet. Fish is eaten both raw and cooked. Roasted, stewed or fried fish are among the most popular cooked dishes although most prefer raw fish. Chasheng fish, or sliced raw fish is a common course to treat family guests. Sliced fish is mixed together with boiled potato slices, green bean sprouts green onion, pepper oil, vinegar and salt. Their clothing over the centuries has been largely practical due to the fact many were out fishing or hunting during the day.
Fur overcoats, hats made from animal hides and gloves were common winter items, much like other people who live in northeastern China. Yet the fish-skin dress is considered a unique tradition within the Hezhe group.
Hezhe women can make some lovely clothing with fish skins. They scale and peel a fish to get a whole fish skin; dry it and make it soft like cloth by rolling it with their hands or wood cane. They then sew the fish skins sheet by sheet according to the patterns on the skins before making it into clothes. Even the thread used to sew is made of fish skins.
Fish-skin dresses for women are mostly in a style similar to the qipao. Fish skins are also used to make suits for men. The clothes are wear-resistant, warm and waterproof. Such clothing is rather useful when they are ice fishing.
However, traditional fish-skin clothes are often only worn at festivals or great events these days, with most Hezhe people now favoring modern clothes.
As for religion, Shamanism, worshiping ancestors, totems and natural spirits have been common among Hezhe people through the centuries. The river gods play an important role in their lives.
The Deer Spirit Festival is on the 9th day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar and originates from their belief in the tiger spirit. They do a special deer spirit dance when offering sacrifices to the tiger spirit.
Wurigong in Hezhe means a recreational sports meeting. It’s usually held in the fifth or sixth month of the lunar calendar and lasts three days. A variety of entertainment takes place.
Yimakan is an ancient talking-singing art. About 40 songs are still sung and most are about ancient wars between different tribes. They tell the stories about heros who surmounted difficulties and conquered tough enemies. Scholars refer to the songs as the “Heroes of the Hezhe.” Other folks songs detail big events in their lives.
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