Mandan - China Travel

introduce

Mandan is located deep in the rainforest of Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and has the reputation of a paradise. Mandan Village is located in the Lancang River Basin, at the southern end of Xishuangbanna. It has a typical tropical valley climate. Entering Mandan, everything in front of you is so shocking: dark green plants, fresh air, beautiful scenery and simple villagers.

Legend has it that the son of the leader of the Houdan Dai tribe was going to Ude, Laos to marry a local tribal princess. There was a dispute over the dowry, and the princess’s send-off team stopped when it reached the current boundary of Mandan Village. After making up the dowry, the princess successfully married to the Dai tribe. Therefore, the Dai tribe decided to settle in the place where the princess stayed temporarily, and this place was named "Mandan". "Mandan" is a transliteration of Dai. The word Man means "village" and the word "Dan" means "mortgage". |

There are two Buddhist temples in Mandan Village. The newly built Buddhist temple is covered with yellow glazed tiles and is the place where monks live; next to it is a solemn and solemn old Buddhist temple, where monks chant scriptures and chant Buddhist scriptures. The Dai people believe in Theravada Buddhism introduced from India. Theravada Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism, that is, "Theravada Buddhism from the South", which was introduced to the Dai area of Xishuangbanna via Myanmar and Thailand. Theravada Buddhism advocates monkhood and practice. Dai men in Xishuangbanna used to live a monastery life away from their families since childhood. They believe that only those who have been monks are educated and learned, and will be respected by society. However, for Dai men, becoming a monk is more of a ritual, and they generally have to return to the vulgar life, and then live a secular life of marriage and funeral. Every village of the Dai people, no matter how big or small, will have a Buddhist temple. When boys reach their teens, they will be sent to become monks to learn Dai characters. Dai characters are passed on from male to female.

Tattoo is an important feature of Dai men and one of the symbols of Dai men's magnificence. According to traditional customs, men of the Dai nationality must have tattoos when they reach a certain age, otherwise they will be discriminated against, especially by women. Even in the past, it was difficult for a man without tattoos to marry a wife.

The old man in Mandan Village said that tattoos are called "hougong" (hougong, transliteration from Dai) in their place, and its meaning is not only a symbol of the magnificence of Dai men, but also a talisman for them. Men's tattooing is a very formal ceremony. Before tattooing, incense must be burned and a chicken must be killed as a sacrifice. Tattoos are generally done by the Buddha in the temple in the village. During the tattooing process, they have to endure great pain and usually have to rest for 3 to 7 days.