Does this painting of Dong farmers in Sanjiang represent a scene of singing and sitting happily at night?
行歌坐夜(háng gē zuò yè), ‘singing and sitting at night’ is a way for young Dong people to communicate and have courtship activities. As night falls, groups of Dong men will run to the girls’ homes to "sit for the girl". When they arrive at the girls’ homes, some girls will open the door to wait, and some will only open the door after repeated pleas. When they gather, they talk about everything, either playing around and making fun, telling each other their feelings, or singing love songs while playing the pipa or Dong flute. The young man expresses himself by telling stories, teasing, and competing for her favour, hoping to capture the girl's heart. The girls will lovingly make oil tea and cook duck porridge for the boys to taste. In this way, men and women can go from first contact to mutual understanding, and in-depth communication to cultivating feelings, and even entering the hall of marriage.
Oil Tea
There are a load more of these Dong Farmers' paintings on this topic.
这幅三江侗族农民画表现的是行歌坐夜快乐场景？行歌坐夜是侗族青年男女交际和恋爱活动的方式。夜幕降临，成群结伴的侗族小伙会跑到姑娘家“坐妹”，当到姑娘家时，有的是敞开大门以待，有的要经多次央求才开门。聚集时无所不谈，或打闹逗乐，或互叙衷肠，或操着琵琶、侗笛唱情歌。小伙通过聊故事、调侃生活、比拼才艺等方式来展现自我，俘获姑娘的芳心。而姑娘们会贤惠地打油茶、煮鸭粥给小伙子们品尝。通过这种方式，男女双方从接触、了解、深入交流到培养感情，乃至步入婚姻的殿堂。
