Respecting old people and entertaining guests with the “tail of cock”

Dongxiang nationality is one that attaches great importance to etiquette. In the regions where Dongxiang nationality lives, to show filial respect to old people has always been seen as the most rudimentary moral character as a person. No matter inside the family or on the society, the habit of respecting old people has become the order of the day. For example, the younger generation should give precedence to the elder generation in all aspects out of courtesy and thoughtfulness; people should nod their heads and pay their respects when meeting older people on the road; when serving water and meal for the old people, the younger generation must hold with both hands; when having meal, it must be up to the old people to use chopsticks and eat firstly, and so on. One proverb of Dongxiang nationality says, “The people that do not show filial respect to their parents cannot ‘leave'”, which means, for the people who do not show filial respect to their parents and elder generation, even when they are dead, their soul cannot be separated from this world, and they will be laughed at and condemned by people forever. 

Dongxiang nationality is one that is warm and hospitable. A proverb of Dongxiang nationality says, “When smoke comes out of the chimney, the host has his wish fulfilled”. When the guests come, they always warmly entertain them wholeheartedly, even when there is no rice to cook, they will heat up some water for the guests.

 The traditional delicates of Dongxiang nationality to entertain guests are mainly fried salted cake (cooked wheaten food), hand-grabbing mutton and stewed chicken, among which, the “toasted whole sheep” is the most solemn. For the eating method of cock, generally one cock will be chopped into 13 pieces. The “tail of cock” is the most precious, and must be presented to the main guests to eat; otherwise the host will commit a breach of etiquette. Other eating methods of chicken is also very particular, the guests must eat according to their own status, they stick to the principle that the elder generation eats the larger pieces and the younger generation eats the smaller pieces. Therefore, Dongxiang people often say, “The chicken must be eaten according to the generation and age”.