Frogs, drums, and the Thunder God, the cult of fertility and prosperity of the Zhuang people | Arts and culture

The emblem of the Thunder God of the Chuang people, ancient relatives of the Thai people. Who speak the same language as us (the Tai Lao family) not only desire rain according to the season but also to overcome natural disasters caused by rain. The medium is the “Ma Kuay” or Kob Khiat and the “Mahorothuek” or Bronze Drum. The ultimate goal is to live well and prosper in racing. This principle of faith still exists in Thai culture as well.

Zhuang people They were the first to develop into an agricultural society quickly, about ten thousand years ago. They know how to grow rice along the water's edge. Cultivation of legumes and sugarcane in highland areas. Therefore, the Zhuang people saw the importance of water and rain. Because this is an important condition in agriculture. When they noticed that often there was thunder and lightning before the rain. So it is believed that rain falls due to “lightning” and there is a god who causes lightning or “God of Thunder”Or the God of Thunder who was highly respected among the Zhuang people

Of course, rain sometimes comes in the form of a wind storm. It was severe thunderstorms that caused the floods. It was a flood that destroyed homes. An agricultural area and causing danger to people's lives. Such a phenomenon exceeds the human ability to resist it. He could only plead with the Thunder God not to punish the humans by causing a violent rainstorm.

The Hongshuihe River Basin (Zhuang District) is a heavy rainfall area. But it is full of rocky mountains. Rice fields absorb less water. Therefore, water often flows after heavy rain. The villagers believe that disasters from the sky are caused by the wrath of the Thunder God. Sacrifice is required to release anger. Therefore, Zhuang community has a good number of village shrines. “Shrine of the Thunder God”

The Zhuang people also associate the lightning god with animals that are regularly associated with the sky and rain, such as frogs and toads, which in the Zhuang language are called “McQuay” Because these guys often make loud noises before the rain. This is because they are sensitive to the moisture in the air. When they noticed this instinct, therefore, the belief that Ma Kuai was the daughter of the Thunder God was born. They are messengers sent to live among humans. He was a mediator between them and the gods. There is also a saying cried Magway, and the sky broke and rain fell. It is an asset “Macwai Worship Festival”

When agricultural innovation and knowledge of weather forecasting had not yet been developed, people thought about the relationship that “macquay” could bring with rain. Because he is the messenger of the Thunder God, there is a “bronze drum” or large drum that is revered as a weapon of the Thunder God. It has the ability to subdue floods. As shown in paintings on cliffs in the Zujiang River Basin. It is a great image for many people to worship the bronze drum. It may reflect ritual worship of the thunder god. Flood prevention

The story of the bronze drum is this divine weapon. It appears in the folk legend of the Zhuang people. It is said that in ancient times three brothers built a bronze drum to imitate the magic weapon of the lightning god, with six “frogs” on the front of the drum. The body has two wings. It can fly, if the water ghost or “Tu'er” creates waves that flood and destroy different areas, the bronze drum will fly into the water. Removing and dissipating danger to people.

Macwai Worship Festival There are still traces of the worship of the god of lightning and control of water. By making sacrifices to ma kwai and bronze drums together. Start by carrying a bronze drum to the water's edge. Then compete with each other and beat drums on both sides of the river to make a loud sound. The intention is to create a sound that will scare away water ghosts. The Great Lightning God has arrived at the edge of the water. (Oh my God.) Water Ghosts, stay in the water. Do not go out and cause chaos in the land.

Makwai Worship Festival So there is a meaning of worshiping Makwai, the daughter of the Thunder God. Asking for rain according to the season, or “summoning for rain”, but at the same time worshiping with bronze drums the weapon of the Lightning God which is also to ward off water ghosts that might cause floods.

It can be said that the magwai and the bronze drum are the protagonists of the above rituals. So it is related to the desire for that “prosperous race” of the Zhuang people because it started from the desire for their race to eat well. Increase your chances of survival Increase population and escape natural disasters This desire is also reflected in the paintings painted on the cliffs along the Zujiang River. These are images of reproductive organs, images of sexual intercourse, which are directly related to reproduction, including the image of a woman with a large belly, which indicates that there will be offspring to continue the race as well.

Or like the Macwai, which lives everywhere in wet swamps. It is a symbol of Obviously, “the city is full of children and grandchildren” because they lay many eggs at once, and the ancestors of the Zhuang people must have noticed this behavior for a long time. Then relate it to the evolution of the individual's race. That is, the desire for the race to reproduce well. (like a frog)

Even the Makwai Worship Festival there is still this hidden meaning, that the Zhuang people regard every Makwai as female and call them “Mother Makwai” and imitate her appearance to worship. Some are of pregnant women, for example, in Qiaotodun Village, Guangxi Province, there are stone carvings in the “Maguai Pavilion,” but most are frogs decorating the facades of bronze drums, including “double frogs” depicting mating. It is also a symbol of spreading offspring.

Currently, the bronze drums used in the Macwai worship festival are no longer decorated with frogs. But the cult of Makwai and dramatic lanterns can also be seen in the northern region of China's Guangxi Province. In the south there are no such celebrations. But many traces of evidence have been found, including paintings painted on the cliffs and the remains of drums that have been discovered.

It is certainly no coincidence that in the royal ceremonies of the King of Thailand there is also use of the Maharothueak drum. There are (seriously) many celebrations, especially celebrations related to abundance such as the Royal Plowing Ceremony of the Royal Palace. Including the coronation ceremony, this is evidence that the Thai people in the Chao Phraya River Basin and the Zhuang people in Guangxi Province have common ancestors or cultural affinity.

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