Achang

Tea

梁河回龙茶 Liánghé huílóngchá — tea from Lianghe County with agricultural geographical indication (2013). Hand-processed in the same place: large leaves withered on round bamboo trays 摊晾 and pan-fired 锅炒杀青, submitted for the intangible heritage list. The Achang guest order follows the harvest: first a thimble of wine to “wash the road,” then a clay tea jar 茶坛 with leaves is set on coals to steep, and only then is the tea poured and conversation begun; refusing offered tea is considered offensive. Lianghe and Husa in Longchuan County, Dehong.

Crown growth

Round bamboo tray 簸箕, placed on the crown of the head at an ANGLE: low woven rim, visible diagonal weave on the bottom, and on it a mound of withered large leaves, one leaf hanging over the rim. Differs from the Va flat plate in that the latter holds a single charred leaf lying horizontally with no rim, while this is a woven circle with an edge and a bulky mound, set at an angle.

Headwear

屋摆 wūbǎi, tall 高包头 gāobāotóu — wrapping worn by married women of Lianghe, made of handwoven black cotton: 5–6 meters unwound, about 0.3 m tall on the head, the tallest of wrapped headdresses. Arranged as a flared tube: narrower at the skull, wider toward the top, flat crown; four or five small embroidered balls hang from the upper left corner. Notch: a socket with a leather ring is left in the flat top, and the tray sits in it as in a stand, held at an angle.

Outline at 6 mm. Flared tower: widens upward, flat top broader than the base, a cluster of balls hangs from the upper corner. In the Tujia the tower is of even width with stepped wraps and no overhang; in the De’ang the pompons form a crown along the LOWER edge of a low wrap.

Clothing

Dark crossover jacket with narrow piping, long skirt, striped shoulder bag 筒帕.

Palette

Black handwoven cotton, straw-colored bamboo of the tray, olive withered leaves, red and yellow hanging balls.