It is noteworthy for foreign students waiting to travel to the Wa ethnic regions and to study Chinese that the Sigangli “Touch You Black” had broken the Guinness World records as the vast number of participants’ palpable carnival in the world. The dancing of Wa is a gem of the Chinese nationality culture to be introduced to everyone waiting to study in China, and it enjoys high fame across the country because of its long history, multicultural characteristics and various social functions.
As can be seen by friends who’d been to learn Mandarin, the Wa people often uses dances to remember their history, express their emotions, imparting knowledge of productions and life, to carry out entertaining fitness activities as well as for the business cultural performances. Therefore, as long as the relative organizations in China make reasonable and scientific explorations of it, we would be able to modify this rare resource of ethnic culture into wealth.
Another characteristic of the Wa nationality to be introduced to foreign friends waiting to learn Chinese in Yunnan lies in that the wooden drum created by the Wa ancestors occupies a significant place in the traditional social lives of the Wa ethnic groups, it is not only a divine instrument in communicating with the supernatural in the heaven, but also an sacred object worshiped by the Wa people. Foreign students who’ve had been longing to study Mandarin in Yunnan must be confused at the historical connotations of the wooden drums, The wooden drum culture demonstrates the miserable life in the past of the Wa people in their struggles against the nature, and carries the persistent-striving, united and aggressive national spirit of the Wa communities.
It is must seem fantastic for people travelling to teach Mandarin Chinese that during the Anti-Japanese war period, the Wa people devoted actively into the building of the Yunnan-Burma highways and railways. Meanwhile, Wa People were united together to set up armed forces with other different tribe associations in safeguarding the frontiers of China and had made vital contributions in anti-imperialist war as well as in the driving out of the Japanese invaders. When you come to learn Chinese language you would discover that the “Touch-You-Black” was originated from the ancient period, the ancient Wa people used to daub an omnipotent medicine on the people’s face, especially the children, to drive away evil spirits and cure diseases to maintain healthy and safe. It had later evolved into a traditional festival of the Wa ethnic group.
People would be able to discover that the mysterious and Awa Mount had been changed into an ocean of gaiety during the occasions of major activities.
The Wa people would spontaneously gather into the center of the “Touch-You-Black” plaza and to start to daub each other with the mud-like self made skin-care products, which enjoys the functions of sun block and skin beautification. Foreign visitors from abroad who are preparing to attend intensive Mandarin courses in China must be interested about the connotations of the mud, well, when they are applied onto the faces of the ladies, it resembles the benediction for the increasing beauty of them; while being daubed on the cheeks of the senior citizens, it resembles the wishes for the good health and longevity of them; while being applied onto the children, it resembles the blessing of safety and auspiciousness, and while you daub the mud-like cream on to the faces of your friends, it will become the earnest wish for the everlasting of your friendship.
It is shown in semester Chinese program in China that the Wa nationality is quite unique in their worshipping of the black color, regarding black to be symbol of diligence as well as healthiness.
It is noteworthy for friends waiting to go to a Chinese language school that during the activities of the “Touch-You-Black”, the person who had been daubed with most mud is considered to be the most beautiful one; a whole black face of mud resembles permanent happiness and blessedness. The positive living attitude of the Wa people can be summarized as follows: the longing for the future, the yearning for the goodness, the pursuit of happiness, and the praying for safety and auspiciousness. As long as you take part in it, you would be able to receive auspicious benedictions and blessings from the deities.