In Hani Shanzhai, Yunnan, there is a guidepost at every fork in the road. Do you know its significance?

The Hani village in Honghe County, Yunnan Province, just like the stars in the sky, is scattered in the lush mountains and mountains. At the fork in the road leading to each Hani village, there is a clearly marked guidepost. When a stranger looks at the guidepost, no matter which village he goes to, he can reach his destination accurately and never go wrong.

Hani people have the custom of setting up guideposts, regardless of the size of the village, whether there are many people or few people, whether they are rich or poor. At the fork and intersection of each village, a guidepost should be carved with Qing slate and stood at the most conspicuous intersection, so that pedestrians can see which village the guidepost goes to and which way to take at a glance.

At many village intersections, some have several duplicate guideposts with the same content and basically the same size. Why is this?

It is said that Hani people set up guideposts for several reasons: First, naughty children or families who are at fault have to set up guideposts at intersections, which can not only relieve parents' guilt, but also make children obedient and sensible; Second, when some people name their children, they also have the custom of setting up guideposts at intersections, which means that children can grow up healthily; Third, it is said that setting up a guidepost can bring good luck to your family. Therefore, it has become a good custom for Hani people to set up guideposts since ancient times.

In recent years, thousands of Hani people have moved from Leyu, Baohua, Jiache, Loen, Azahe, Jiayin and other towns in the new immigrant areas around Huancheng North Road, Anbang Road, Aoyaoshan and Wanniantang in Honghe County, Yunnan Province, forming new immigrant villages. In these newly-built Hani villages, there are blocks at the intersections of each village, especially the intersections. For example, at the fork of Huancheng North Road in the county town of Tuosa, there are three conspicuous guideposts: Lianhuatang Road in the east, Huancheng North Road in the south, Anbang Village and Wanniantang Village in the west, and Hongtupo Village in the north; The person who erected the monument was Li Yunfeng; The monument was erected on December 24, 212. Next to this monument, there are two guideposts with the same content, but the time of erecting the monument is different. Some people say that the purpose of erecting three guideposts with the same content in the same place is to include the three meanings mentioned above: naming a child to erect a monument, having a naughty child to erect a monument at home can become clever, and having a bad fortune can bring good luck.

The custom of the Hani people to erect guideposts not only reflects the Hani people's longing for a happy life, but also reflects good social morality. The guideposts have become a traditional culture of the Hani people.

Friend, have you ever seen such a guidepost when you travel to the Hani mountain village in Honghe, Yunnan? See this article, do you know its meaning?