Yunnan Province in southwest China is home to many ethnic groups, all with their own distinctive culture. With a nod to the pass of time, the hunters of the Hani have given a traditional dance, the Manggu Dao, a new look to reflect the changes in their life.
The Manggu Dao dance celebrates the Hani people's two most prized objects. The Manggu, regarded as sacred, is a signaling drum used in hunting. The dao is the knife used for hunting animals and self-protection.
One of the traditional dance steps is "Wan bu rao shou," which imitates their ancestors sweeping their own footprints to avoid detection by animals.
As the life of the Hani changes, more new steps are added. These days they spend more time plowing than hunting, both in the fields and in dance.
(CCTV.com August 29, 2003)
