Three Arrows to the Heart: A Yugur Wedding Tradition
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A groom shoots three arrows at his bride. This is a key ritual in weddings of China's Yugur ethnic group.
The arrows, with their tips removed, strike the bride's clothing. They must not harm her. This act symbolizes driving away evil spirits and bad luck to protect the couple's future happiness.
The Yugur people, numbering around 14,000, live primarily in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County in northwestern China. Most follow Tibetan Buddhism and speak a Turkic language.
The arrow-shooting ceremony is one of their most distinctive cultural practices. It highlights how ancient traditions preserve a unique identity within China's diverse cultural landscape.