Gyangze Dama Festival

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Gyangze Dama Festival

Applicant: Gyangze County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Project No.: 986

Project No.: Ⅹ - 79

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Tibet Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Gyangze County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Protection unit: culture and Tourism Bureau of Jiangzi County

Brief introduction of Gyangze Dama Festival:

Applicant: Gyangze County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Ganzi Dama Festival, which means horse racing and archery in Tibetan language, is a traditional Tibetan Festival integrating sports competition, artistic performance and material exhibition. It is popular in Gyangze County of Tibet Autonomous Region from April 10 to 28 of Tibetan calendar.

It is said that raodangsangpasanbu was not only the interior minister of the Sakya Dynasty, but also the king of Gyangze. He had a great reputation among the masses. After his death, his disciples set a memorial ceremony every year. Later, because of the war, the sacrifice was interrupted. In 1408, raodengsangpa served as king of Gyangze and resumed the sacrifice according to his father's will. From April 10 to 27 of the Tibetan calendar, raodengsangpa offered sacrifices and chanted sutras for his grandfather. Entertainment activities did not begin until April 28. The activities were organized by the king's subordinates, soldiers and servants. The main contents of the activities included the exhibition of Buddhist paintings, jumping, wrestling, horse racing and stone throwing. From then on, the Tibetan calendar from April 10 to 28 was fixed as a sacrificial Festival. During the reign of zaxidanpa (1447), there were more recreational activities, such as horse racing and archery competitions, and the festival was officially formed.