The Daur ethnic group: Source of China's modern hockey sport

China's smallest ethnic groups living in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang have grabbed attention on social media amid the tourism surge this winter in the provincial capital city of Harbin, known as the "ice city."

Videos of people from different ethnicities dressed in their unique clothing and parading on the city's famous Zhongyang Street while showcasing specialties and performing traditional dance and songs have gone viral on platforms such as Douyin.

Members of the Daur ethnic group dressed themselves up on January 9, putting on a show on the street with dancers holding hockey sticks. Captivated by their performance, sightseers stopped by to capture the moment on their phones.

In fact, the Daur people, who lived on hunting and fishing historically, have been playing hockey for over a thousand years, and they are considered the source of the modern hockey sport in China. 

The nation's first professional hockey team was founded by the Daur people in the 1970s, and over the years, many Daur hockey athletes have been trained to play in national and international events, including the Olympics. 

On important occasions and festivals, top players from each tribe gather to compete in the Daur people's most popular sport.

Media reports say that in the past, a Daur bride would send a hockey stick to her bridegroom to express her good wishes in marriage.

There are two prominent elements on the ethnic crest of the Daur people: hockey and eagle. 

In history, the Daur people captured eagles and trained them to hunt hares, pheasants and other small animals. The raptor, as part of the Daur people's totem worship, speaks of their awe and respect for nature.

In modern times, eagles are no longer seized to hunt due to the need to protect biodiversity, but the eagle culture remains important in the Daur tribes, especially in their folktales and literature.

(Cover image via CFP)