Before reading this article, we sincerely invite you to click the "Follow" button on the upper right corner , which will not only facilitate your discussion and sharing, but also allow you to read the latest content in time. Thank you for your support.

As we all know, there are 56 ethnic groups in my country, and each ethnic group has its own unique customs, which over time have evolved into unique ethnic culture passed down from generation to generation.

Some ethnic groups value silver jewelry, some value singing and dancing, and some do not eat pork.

The customs of the ethnic group in today's story are so special that they are a bit scary.

They are small in number, have no writing system of their own but have their own language, and have always been quite mysterious to the outside world.

Therefore, most people would feel horrified when they hear that women of this ethnic group must undergo facial tattooing before marriage.

Why do women of this ethnic group have to have facial tattoos?

Let us reveal the answer today.

Respect for nature and unique customs

This unique ethnic group is the Dulong people.

They have lived for generations in the river valley area in the northwest of Yunnan Province, where the highest altitude is 4,963 meters and the lowest altitude is more than 1,000 meters.

It is cold at high altitudes. The altitude not only brings inconvenience to the Dulong people in their lives, but also makes them isolated from the world all year round.

As the most sparsely populated ethnic group in Yunnan, the Dulong people do not have their own writing system but have their own language.

Because of habit, the valley has become the most beautiful paradise in their hearts.

The simple Dulong people have a deep worship for nature and believe that all things have spirits.

As for the origin of facial tattoos among Dulong girls, there is no official record of this in their documents because the Dulong people do not have their own writing system.

But the earliest record of women with face tattoos can be traced back to the New Book of Tang.

In ancient books, facial tattooing is called "Wenmian Pu". It has a long history among the Dulong people and is limited to women.

There are several theories circulating about women with face tattoos, all of which are convincing to a certain extent.

For example, to distinguish between men and women within the same tribe, and to better recognize the souls of relatives after death.

Because of their belief in ghosts, Dulong people, young and old, men, women, and children firmly believe that the soul of a person also has a destination after death, and facial tattoos can help the soul find its "way home."

It is reported that Dulong girls have their faces tattooed when they are as young as a few years old, and at the latest before they get married.

This ancient ethnic custom is regarded as a special "coming-of-age ceremony" for girls.

At the same time, the patterns of the patterns are similar, all of which are geometric patterns composed of lines. Even if there are slight differences, they are only different in pattern style.

This is because the Dulong people regard geometric shapes as national totems. While cherishing them, women also believe that tattooing them on their faces is a symbol of honor.

But is facial tattooing really as easy as it sounds?

The answer is no.

Tattooing is beautiful, but the process is painful

The tattoo process is very painful.

Girls who want to receive facial tattoos have to lie on the bed in advance, clean their faces and wait for the tattooist to pierce their delicate skin with special tools.

This tool is made of polished bamboo, which is natural yet sharp.

The bamboo stick needs to be dipped in the pot smoke water used as paint, and a rough outline of the girl's face is first drawn.

And this is just the beginning, what happens next is the highlight.

In order for the pattern to accompany the girl throughout her life, it is necessary to use the hard thorns on the thorns and a wooden stick to knock and move around on the predetermined pattern.

The paint was penetrated deeply into the girl's skin along with the piercing pain.

After this process is completed, it does not mean the end of the tattoo.

After the tattoo is finished, it is time to fix the color.

The material used for fixing the color is a special product made from pot smoke and green grass juice.

The grass juice needs to be constantly rubbed on the tattoos on girls' faces, so that the pigment can penetrate deeper into the subcutaneous tissue and will not blur over the years.

This process sounds very painful.

Not only does the girl have to endure the pain of tattooing for several hours, but she also has to rub the herbs into the wound continuously.

This kind of pain is unbearable for ordinary people.

But what made them persevere?

It is the belief in the nation.

Whenever a girl cries out in pain during the tattoo process, the elders around her will comfort her softly and tell her the national spiritual heritage represented by the tattoo.

This sense of national identity can often ease a girl's pain. After all, inner motivation is the most powerful source of motivation.

But the pain caused by facial tattoo is not a momentary stinging pain, but a long-term dull pain.

After the tattoo is completed, the girl still needs ten days to half a month to wait for the wound to heal.

During this process, they often feel so much pain that they can't even sleep well, and their wounds will become painful and itchy as their mood changes.

But the girl could only endure it. After all, the wound could not be touched by water or pressed. This realization of growth was too painful. Only by experiencing it could the women of the Dulong ethnic group transform and grow.

When the wound is completely healed, the blue-green tattoo will remain on the girl's face forever, becoming a unique symbol of Dulong women.

This means that they are fully adults and can participate in the family's weddings and funerals.

However, with the continuous progress and changes of the times, this ancient custom of the Dulong people has been subject to new controversies.

National integration gradually disappears

In today's era of information explosion, the Dulong people have gradually unveiled their mysterious veil and come into the public eye.

This also includes the traditional custom of facial tattooing.

One stone can cause a thousand ripples. Some people on the Internet think that facial tattoos are too cruel and a symbol of oppression of women.

Some people, however, believe that every nation has its own culture and that they should seek common ground while reserving differences and learn to respect and tolerate each other.

The voices from the outside world and the integration of different ethnic groups have also subtly influenced the women of the Dulong ethnic group.

They began to accept the concepts of the times, learn and make progress. Since liberation, the facial wrinkles of Dulong girls have gradually disappeared, and have been replaced by their original fair skin.

According to research data, there are 36 Dulong women with tattoos. Most of them are nearly 70 years old, and the youngest is 50 years old.

But facial tattooing is, after all, the traditional culture of the Dulong people. Is it going to disappear in the long river of history?

In this regard, Dulong women also have new ways to keep the customs going.

That's "sticker".

The stickers can replicate the patterns of previous tattoos, and when pasted on the face, they can reproduce the appearance and spirit of the tattooed woman.

Sticking pictures is easy and quick, and does not require any physical pain, so it is popular among tourists and women of the same ethnic group.

Isn't this a way of killing two birds with one stone?

Facial tattooing was once a pursuit of Dulong women and a way for them to display their beauty.

Stickers are their learning about the new era and a symbol of ideological progress and the release of constraints.

Facial tattoos will not disappear. On the contrary, as the nation continues to progress and integrate, they will become an unforgettable page in the history of the Chinese nation.

What do you think about this? Welcome to leave a message in the comment section!

References:

The mysterious tattooed woman in the distant Dulong River, China Military Network, 2022-07-25

(China in the past decade) The "trendy" life of a tattooed Dulong woman in her seventies, China News Network, June 17, 2022