"The fundamental reason is that our Central Plains culture is extensive and profound, and our territory is vast. Before Buddhism was introduced, we had Taoism and Confucian culture. We have used Confucianism to govern the country, and Taoism is something that all our people believe in."
"What does it mean to believe a little bit?"
"Belief a little bit means that ordinary people know these gods, but what gods they believe in and to what extent they believe it depends on which gods are useful to them and to what extent they are efficacious. The Han people are a very pragmatic nation."
Everyone laughed.
"So when these religions spread to Han areas, it is difficult for one to dominate. They can only change and adapt to our Han culture, forming the unity of the three religions."
The tourists nodded.
"When Theravada Buddhism spread to Banna, it actually merged with the Dai people's original beliefs such as ancestor worship and water culture. When Tibetan Buddhism spread to Tibet, it also struggled with the local religion Bon, which worships ancestors and witchcraft.
Then merge."
"oh!"
"The reason why they can become the main belief of a region and a nation is because of political guidance. Because in Han areas, no matter how much they worship Buddhism, they actually do not really use Buddhism or Taoism as a tool of governance. We have always been Confucian.
We study culture, the Four Books and Five Classics, right?
In the Dai area, to learn culture, you must go to a temple. They don’t just study Buddhist classics. In fact, the Baye Sutra is the encyclopedia of the Dai people, and it is all-inclusive. So you can learn a lot of things by going to a temple. Dai language,
History and culture, astronomy, medicine, technology, etc.”
“Buddhist scriptures also include science?”
"Yes." He Huan talked about the Beiye Sutra, an intangible cultural heritage of the Dai people.
“We respect respecting teachers and respecting religion, and their monasteries and monks assume the role of academies and teachers. Therefore, in addition to the high status of monks stipulated in the doctrine, the people are also willing to recognize their status.
Believers must and voluntarily serve monks. Therefore, when believers are about ten years old, they must become a monk and study in order to complete the transformation of their social role.
Just like when we enter society after going to college, this is equivalent to a diploma. Only after you have studied in a monastery will everyone recognize you as a literate person. Those who have not studied are savages."
The tourists all laughed.
"So it plays the role of education, and indeed because of this role, it has passed down the Dai people's history, culture, and customs, including Buddhism, very well."
He Huan explained the history of Theravada Buddhism and took them on a tour.
"Xiao Bailong, you know so much, have you also come here to become a monk?"
He Huan was speechless, and the tourists started laughing again.
"Are they still becoming monks now?" Ms. Lan asked.
He Huan said: "You also heard what I talked to Brother Dao yesterday. Most of the children who go to the monastery to study will return to secular life. Children from ordinary civilian families cannot stay because the hierarchy of high-level monks is very strict. Only nobles can
Only by doing so can you get promoted. Most people just go in and get a diploma."
Everyone laughed.
"Now that nine-year compulsory education has become universal, it conflicts with their original system of studying in monasteries and monks. In the past, in Banna, if you could write Dai, you were considered a cultural person.
Nowadays, the Dai language is rarely used in daily life, and all are in Chinese, so the Bayeux Sutra has become a cultural heritage. In modern society, Chinese is the only language, and only Chinese can help you find a good job.
So the temple diploma is not that important. There are fewer and fewer young monks in the temple. The study time also conflicts with the compulsory education, so I can only become a monk for a period of time during the holidays and wear cassocks to go to school.
Nowadays, if you want children to become monks, you have to coax them. You have to buy them racing cars and remote-controlled airplanes. In short, just as you trick your children into going to school, they will trick them into going to monasteries."
The tourists laughed and fell into deep thought.
National integration and cultural dissemination are good things, but the strong assimilation ability of Han culture has turned their original culture into cultural heritage.
If they want to enter modern society, they must learn Chinese culture, and their original culture will be less and less exposed. Everyone can't help but feel sad.
There happened to be Buddhist monks who were carving Beiye Sutra, so He Huan asked them to take off their shoes and go in to visit.
After watching the making of the Bay Leaf Sutra for a while, everyone better understood the splendor and magic of Dai culture.
After coming out, several tourists went to the temple to offer incense.
"Don't take pictures of the Buddha statues, you can take pictures outside." He Huan reminded.
"Why?"
"Respect their religious beliefs."
"oh."
"Many people like to take random photos when traveling, but it is recommended not to take photos at religious sites. Because you may watch the excitement as a background, but to others, it is very solemn and sacred."
"Um."
Along the way, a management staff indeed reminded some tourists who were wearing cool and fancy clothes to put on their coats. Everyone looked at Xiao Bailong with a smile. Fortunately, Xiao Bailong reminded them to dress neatly and appropriately.
After lighting incense and coming out, He Huan said: "When I come to Banna, I always feel that I should see the elephants and peacocks."
"Ah! Where is it?" The tourists looked around.
"Want to go to Wild Elephant Valley?"
"It's actually difficult to see wild elephants in Wild Elephant Valley. You can only see elephant performances. I personally don't like animal performances very much."
"Yeah." Everyone nodded.
"As for the forest, since there is already a Hope Tree, we didn't arrange the Wild Elephant Valley. But the Forest Park is very close, and you can watch peacocks flying."
"Okay!" The tourists ran out, happy to have someone to guide them.
We paid our own expense in the car. When we arrived at the entrance of the Forest Park, He Huan went to the group window to hand in the tour form, and then looked at the public notice board. He didn't see the tour guide price. After all, which tour guide would ask for a tour guide at the group window?
"How much does it cost for a tour guide?" He Huan had to ask the conductor.
Ms. Lan was not familiar with everyone, so she stood close to him. After hearing his words, she couldn't help but look at him sideways. He Huan's cheeks were hot, but he pretended to be calm. The Buddhist temple is small, with obvious landmarks, and can be turned around. Forest Park
He really doesn't know how to get there without anyone to guide him.
The conductor looked up and stood up excitedly, "Xiao Bailong! Wait, I'll make a call!"
"No, no," He Huan said quickly, "Just find someone for me to lead the way. No need to explain."
A Dai girl jumped out from the side and said with a smile: "I will guide you for free."
He Huan nodded happily, "Thank you."
Ms. Lan looked at him in disbelief.
He Huan pretended to be calm and followed the Dai tour guide to lead the tourists inside.
On the wall surrounding the entrance is a long and magnificent mural.
Xiao Bailong Tuan looked at the mural and said, "Xiao Bailong, the painting above feels a bit familiar!"
"Yes!" He Huan said, "These are Prince Zhaoshutun and Princess Peacock!"
"Ah!" Everyone gathered around and slid against the wall to take a closer look. Because Xiao Bailong had said it and could still understand it. At this moment, they were happy and surprised, "You didn't make it up! It's so amazing!"
He Huan was speechless, "So you think I made it up!"
"Yes! Who would see a tall and handsome man and think that he is wise, ideal, kind and gentle? Hahaha..."
The Dai tour guide took them to the square, to the fountain pool, where golden boats were coming and going, and the dance performance had just begun.
He Huan said: "This is the live performance of Princess Peacock."
The tourists happily sat down in the auditorium and watched the princess in peacock feathers and the prince in golden hunting attire dance with each other in a charming and charming way.
Xiao Bailong told it yesterday, and everyone is recalling this aphrodisiac story again.
He Huan looked at Ms. Lan who was sitting next to her, trying hard to understand but could only watch the excitement, and told her again.
Ms. Lan nodded, "If I had known earlier, I should have gone to Wangtianshu yesterday instead of letting him and the mistress sweetly listen to you talk about the couple tree. Why do you think they had the nerve to listen?"
He Huan sighed, and Ms. Lan looked at him, "I'm sorry." and continued to watch the show.
The dance is of course for fun. It only dances to the wedding ceremony of the prince and princess, and the actors go ashore and throw candies to the audience, and the audience happily picks up the candies.
He Huan turned around and saw that there were many group tourists. It seemed that group tours had resumed today.
After throwing the wedding candies, the peacock princess turned her head and whistled, and peacocks suddenly flew out of the green woods on the mountain. There were hundreds of them in groups, with their gorgeous feathers spread and swaying, flying over the green mountains and green waters under the blue sky and white clouds.
.
This scene is really magical!
The tourists were stunned and said, "This is probably what the peacock princess flew to take a bath in the river!"
He Huan also felt that it was worth coming.
The peacocks flew over the fountain pool and strolled in front of the tourists without hesitation, looking at them expectantly.
He Huan also looked back at the tourists, "Don't you see them looking at you?"
"Then what should we do?"
"Kiss it?"
"Ha ha ha ha……"
He Huan was speechless, "Give it something delicious!"
The tourists hurriedly smiled and bought bird food to feed the peacocks. These peacocks were not afraid of people and would peck at the palms of their hands.
He Huan helped them take photos. “When I saw them, I heard the whistle and said: Come down the mountain quickly! It’s time to eat!”
"Hahaha……"
The tourists are having fun, so just let them have more fun.
"Would you like to go to the Water Splashing Festival?"
"Yeah!"
He Huan asked the Dai tour guide to take them and continue walking. No one thought there was any problem with the addition of a tour guide to the Little White Dragon group. Anyway, there was someone to guide Little White Dragon to every scenic spot.
Only Ms. Lan looked at him strangely.
He Huan didn't care about her. She was a mess on her own, and she had air traffic control to hire a tour guide!
"The Water Splashing Festival is now a carnival, and these scenic spots celebrate the Water Splashing Festival every day. It is actually a combination of the Dai Water Festival and the Buddha Bathing Festival.
There are a series of solemn activities, and finally there is water splashing and blessing. We have just come from the main Buddhist temple, so it is solemn first and then joyful."
The Dai tour guide led them to the small water-splashing square, "To participate in the Water Splashing Festival, you must change into our Dai clothes to avoid getting your clothes wet."
The money to change clothes was not expensive, so everyone ran to change clothes and splash water. He Huan stood next to them and took pictures of them. Ms. Lan also stood next to him.
He Huan looked at her and said, "Since I have decided to play, I will put it down and go and have fun."
Ms. Lan glanced at him, then went to change clothes and walked into the mist and crowd.
He Huan took pictures of her again.
Although she seemed relatively calm and calm, to be honest, He Huan admired her very much. But as a human being, how could it be possible for people to remain calm when encountering such a thing?
If she is unhappy, it will affect the atmosphere of the entire group. This is secondary. What I'm afraid of is that she can't think about it alone. Although she doesn't seem to be such an extreme person, we always have to guard against her sudden collapse or something. So she can vent it out.
the best.
Now seeing her splashing around with her group members and other tourists with smiles on her face, He Huan felt relieved.
After running out soaked from playing, the tourists put on their own clothes and came to He Huan. A group of scenic spot leaders also came and surrounded He Huan happily, "Little White Dragon! You didn't even say a word that you came?"