Prince's Meeting in Shaxi (8th day of the second lunar month)

The photo of the Prince's Festival was taken by Xiao Li and Xiao Yang in 2024 when they went to Shaxi to attend the "Prince's Festival". This is a relatively important traditional festival in Shaxi. If you happen to be in Dali during this period, you might as well go to Shaxi and catch an authentic folk festival

"Every year on the eighth day of the second lunar month, the Bai people in Dali hold folk festivals, and the festivals in different places have different themes. In the ancient city of Jianchuan and the ancient town of Shaxi in the north of Dali, the Bai people hold the Prince's Meeting, which is a large-scale Buddhist folk activity spontaneously organized by the people. At the meeting, men, women, old and young dressed up and followed the "Prince" to tour the ancient city and town, with firecrackers blasting and gongs and drums beating to commemorate Sakyamuni who became a monk on this day.

According to legend, when Prince Siddhartha was traveling outside the city on the eighth day of the second lunar month, he saw the suffering of the people and decided to become a Buddha to save all living beings and free them from the suffering of reincarnation. Since then, the people have designated this day as the Prince's Meeting, one to commemorate the Buddha, and the other to pray for blessings. Usually, the schedule of the Prince's Meeting is: on the sixth day, the prince is welcomed into the city, and young and strong men carry the sedan chair for the prince, hoping to get the prince's blessing and make their newly married wives pregnant and give birth to a boy. On the seventh day, the boys tour the four gates of the southeast, northwest, and northeast. At seven or eight o'clock in the evening, the colorful lights in front of each door are lit, and the children hold two small candles and follow the prince's statue, and tour the four gates of the southeast, northwest, and northeast. The whole team is like a dragon swimming in the quiet night. The eighth day is the most lively, called the Prince's Tour of the Four Gates. At noon, people line up in a long dragon, some wearing masks, some holding offerings, singing and dancing, and follow the prince on the sedan chair to tour the four city gates.

The Taizihui, which has been passed down to this day, embodies the emotions and beliefs of the people of Jianchuan. The parade of gods, prayers, and dance and music have become the faith of the Bai people, helping all living beings to enlighten their minds and understand the wisdom of impermanence and selflessness. February 8th is also the beginning of spring. The Bai people who are engaged in farming use this day to pray for a safe life, a good harvest, good luck, and more wealth and happiness . 

The original text (excerpt) is published in the public account "Dali Bai Nationality Home" Text, photo: Zhang Xueyi