Climbing knife ladder is a traditional custom in Miao nationality. On annual market gathering or important festivals such as “the eighth day of April” and “swing festival”, there are always warriors performing the game of climbing knife ladder.
Knife ladder equipment is a more than 10m high wooden pole that is chiseled with 36 eyelets and inserted with 36 steel blades, which are 45cm long, 0.5～1cm thick at the back of knife blade and with sharp knife edge.
Make the cutting edge of knife upward to form the knife ladder, and fasten the knife to avoid the sway. The distance between the adjacent ladders is 33cm, with 33 ladders in total. The span wire around the stake is tightened; meanwhile, the top of ladder is tied with small colorful flags which symbolize the hope and victory.
The people who climb the knife ladder should have great courage and insight, technique and gest, and they climb from the first knife blade to the last one on the top while the knife becomes more and more sharp. Upon reaching the top, they place hairs on the knife and immediately their hairs are cut into two parts.
The climbers on the knife ladder also need to perform games such as hanging Upside Down, roc spreading wings, Kwan-Yin Sitting in Lotus Palm Form and ancient tree twisting roots etc., use all their skills. Climbing knife ladder is soul stirring performance and a striving action as well as self-sacrificed spirits, and is made by hero, showing the past life style of Miao people. The knife ladder is also full of blood, sweat; however, the people climbing it feel the sweet and enjoy the beauty of the action. |
Asia Travel 
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