The She People's Story at China She Ethnic Palace

The She People's Story at China She Ethnic Palace. Located in Tingping Folk Village, Jinhan She Ethnic Township, Ningde City, China She Ethnic Palace is the first architectural complex in China dedicated to showcasing the history, culture, and customs of the She ethnic minority. It houses precious She cultural relics including historical documents, traditional costumes, and production and living tools, telling the following stories of the She people: 1. The character "She" originally meant land reclamation and slash-and-burn farming, referring to this unique production method, which later evolved into the ethnic group's name. They had settled at the junction of Fujian, Guangdong, and Jiangxi provinces by the early 7th century; 2. The She people call themselves "Shanha" and share common origins with the Miao and Yao ethnic groups in southwestern China. Due to warfare, they frequently migrated. By the Qing Dynasty, most She people had been assimilated into Han culture, becoming part of the Chaoshan and Hakka communities; 3. The She people's spiritual core consists of ancestor worship and polytheism. They perform regular and irregular ancestral sacrifices, emphasizing ceremonial rituals and magic. They embrace various deities and use various religious ceremonies to ward off disasters and misfortune; 4. The She people enjoy relatively free courtship and marriage. They meet during work or festivals, express love through songs, and use songs as matchmaking tools. Their traditional wedding customs are quite lively, maintaining the unique custom where men bow but women don't, which has been listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage; 5. The She people produced the famous "Lei Style" in architecture - the Lei family of imperial architects in the Qing Dynasty. They participated in and led the design and construction of famous buildings including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Old Summer Palace, Summer Palace, Chengde Mountain Resort, and the Eastern and Western Qing Tombs; 6. The palace also tells stories of historical support for the She people, which led to the establishment of Chixi Village, China's first poverty alleviation village, setting an example for the overall poverty alleviation and prosperity of the She people. 📍Address: No. 1 Xiatingping, Tingping Village, Jinhan She Ethnic Township, Jiaocheng District, Ningde City 🚉Transportation: Direct access via Bus Route 3 🌟Highlights: She culture and She people's stories 📝Tips: Opening hours: 9:00-12:00 in the morning, 2:30-5:30 in the afternoon, closed during noon.