Mindong She Nationality Ancestral Land: An Ethnic Epic in the Great

Geographical Connections

Fuan (Fujian), Luoyuan (Fuzhou), Xiapu (Ningde), Funing Prefecture, Changle County, Lianjiang County, Huokou She Township (Luoyuan), Muyang Town (Fuan), Banzhong She Township, Xitan Town.

Origins: The Hongwu Migration from Phoenix Mountain to Mindong

The origin and migration of the She people in Mindong is a grand epic spanning over a millennium. According to local gazetteers, the She people refer to themselves as “Shan-ha,” meaning “Guests in the Mountains.” The critical turning point for their large-scale entry into the Mindong region occurred in the first year of the Ming Hongwu era (1368). While scattered distributions existed as early as the Sui and Tang dynasties, the official immigration policies and refuges during the early Ming Dynasty established Mindong as the “Ancestral Land of the She Nationality in Fujian.” Records from Luoyuan County indicate that She migrants who moved from Phoenix Mountain in Chaozhou, Guangdong, during the early Hongwu era became pioneers in developing the remote mountainous areas of Huokou and Daba.

Historical statistics show that the She population in Mindong experienced significant fluctuations during the Ming and Qing dynasties. By the 23rd year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1684), with the consolidation of Qing rule and adjustments in tax policies, She settlements reached a peak. In Fuan, for instance, approximately 65% of existing She natural villages were formed during the Ming and Qing periods. Within Fuan City, the 1990 fourth national census recorded a She population of 64,264, accounting for 11.5% of the city’s total population—a figure that ranks among the highest in Fujian Province. These clans built their homes amidst the mountains and waters, making Fuan and Luoyuan the “epicenter” of She culture.

Clans: Footprints of the Pan, Lan, Lei, and Zhong Surnames

The social organization of the Mindong She people revolves closely around the four major surnames: Pan, Lan, Lei, and Zhong. This bloodline community linked by surnames formed a stable layout of natural villages during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. In Luoyuan County, the distribution of the She population is highly characteristic, primarily concentrated in Huokou Township in the west. In a 1988 survey, the She population in this township accounted for 34.2% of its total inhabitants. In Fuan City, the Pan, Lan, and Lei surnames are the most common, while the Zhong surname is more frequently found in the border areas between Lianjiang and Changle.

Family migrations behind these surnames were more than simple geographical moves; they involved complex social contracts. During the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, She migrants and local Han people established long-term cooperation through “mountain land leasing.” Many She settlements, such as Banzhong and Xitan in Fuan, preserve a total of 24 ancestral halls from the Ming and Qing periods, each with precise migration dates carved into their beams and pillars. For example, a Lei family genealogy in Fuan records that their ancestors moved from Jianzhou (modern Nanping) in the 25th year of Hongwu (1392) and have since thrived for over 20 generations. This precise familial narrative fills every inch of the Mindong mountains with historical weight.

Embroidery: Totems and Aesthetics in the “Phoenix Dress”

If architecture is a frozen epic, then the “Phoenix Dress” of She women is a flowing totem. The costume culture of the Mindong She people was largely finalized during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, with the “Phoenix Crowns” of Fuan and Luoyuan being the most magnificent. A complete Phoenix Dress consists of a headpiece, a large-lapel shirt, an apron, and leggings, symbolizing the phoenix incarnation in the legend of the She ancestor “Panhu.” According to customs recorded in late Qing and early Republican gazetteers, the headpiece is extremely elaborate, often requiring about 1.5 meters of red wool yarn and silver ornaments like hairpins and plates, with a total weight reaching up to 0.5 kilograms.

The embroidery craftsmanship of the Mindong She people demonstrates high artistic standards. In 1956, during a national survey of ethnic minority costumes, the “Phoenix Dress” of the Fuan She people was recognized by experts as a cultural heritage of immense research value. Traditional dresses feature rainbow-colored silk threads on the collar, cuffs, and diagonal lapel, with over 30 types of patterns, including willow leaves, clouds, and the “Wan” (swastika) symbol. In Luoyuan County, there are approximately 12 authentic pieces of brocade from the late Qing period. These brocades are not just clothing but “wordless history books” documenting the clan’s totemic worship. Every stitch echoes the prayers for a better life by She women during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Rituals: Ancestral Spirits and the “Zuo Guan Yin” Ceremony

The spiritual world of the Mindong She people is deeply rooted in ancestor worship. The most solemn ritual is the “Zuo Guan Yin” (also known as Ancestor Worship or Lamp Passing). In the mid-Qing Dynasty, this ceremony was extremely prevalent in She villages in Fuan and Luoyuan. It is not only a religious activity but also a core manifestation of clan cohesion. The ceremony typically lasts for 3 days and 2 nights, involving complex steps such as inviting deities, reporting to ancestors, and walking through fire. According to Luoyuan County records, a large-scale ancestor worship event in 1934 saw more than 2,000 relatives participating, with detailed lists of ritual materials consumed recorded in documents of that time.

Beyond grand rituals, the “March 3rd” Festival is a renowned cultural event in Mindong. Since the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, She people have gathered on hillsides every third day of the third lunar month to sing antiphonal She songs. These improvised two-part mountain songs are treasures of Mindong folk literature. Fuan City currently preserves over 1,500 traditional song scores in its database. In 1985, Fuan officially designated “March 3rd” as a statutory holiday for the She people. This evolution from traditional ritual to modern cultural festival reflects the dynamic balance the Mindong She people maintain between ethnic identity and modern social integration.

Heritage: From Ancient Villages to Modern Cultural Hubs

In the modern era, Mindong She culture has found new life through protection and development. Traditional She villages in Fuan and Luoyuan have been included in national protection lists. In 1994, Banzhong She Township in Fuan was named a “National Model Collective for Ethnic Unity and Progress” by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission. Currently, the Mindong region boasts 4 national-level intangible cultural heritage projects (such as She costumes and mountain songs) and 15 provincial-level projects. This high density of cultural accumulation makes “Mindong She Culture” one of the most recognizable cultural brands in Fujian.

Behind the data lies a vibrant living heritage. Taking Huokou in Luoyuan as an example, the She Folk Museum established in 2012 receives an average of over 50,000 visitors annually, housing more than 800 items of production and daily life tools from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the transition between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in 2020, the integration of characteristic agriculture and cultural tourism in She settlements saw per capita income nearly triple compared to 10 years ago. This ethnic epic from the mountains is stepping out of ancient records to write a new chapter of prosperity and pride in the information age.