The town distribution of Yangdian dragon lanterns

The custom of Gaolong Temple Fair in Yangdian originated in the Southern Song Dynasty. Wu Zimu of the Southern Song Dynasty recorded in "Mengliang Lu": "On the night of the Lantern Festival... the grass is bound to become a dragon, and a green curtain is used to cover the grass, and the lanterns are placed densely. "There are thousands of candles, and they look like twin dragons." This shows that all the large counties in the Southern Song Dynasty had the custom of setting up dragon lanterns during the Lantern Festival; and according to the records of De'an Mansion in "Song History", Xiaogan was born during Jianyan (1127) -1130) moved along the Zizi Village, which is located in the Taiping Town Bay area beside the boundary river of Yangdian Town, Xiaonan District. It can be speculated that Yangdian should have already had such a festival custom at that time, but the dragon lanterns at that time were just dragon-shaped lights placed there for people to appreciate. By the Ming Dynasty, the folk customs of "Gaolong Temple Fair" had taken the prototype they are today, and the content had become richer than before, including the maturity of the dragon shape, the richness of stilt characters, the introduction of lion dance, lotus picking boat, stilt walking and gongs and drums. There are certain routines for the stages, links and processes of the activity. With the founding of New China, the custom of "Gaolong Temple Fair" has achieved further development. In 1960, the Yangdian Town Dragon Lantern Association was established, and the Yangdian Folklore Management Committee was established. Due to the "Four Purification Movements", the custom of "Gaolong Temple Fair" was suspended for seven or eight years. In the early 1980s, with the support and participation of the party and the government, the dragon lantern routine was rearranged and accompaniment of gongs and drums was added. It highlights the local characteristics, embodies the rich imagination and creativity of the people, and expresses the people's love for life and good wishes. Gaolong folk customs are high-grade, such as playing with peace lanterns and harvest lanterns, which are artistic and different from other bad habits. The low-level taste creates a brand of regional characteristics and tourism culture. With the strong support of the government, a special photography exhibition on the Gaolong Temple Fair in Yangdian, Hubei Province was organized and held, and a photography album "Dragon and Tiger Leaping" was published and distributed nationwide.

Yangdian Town is known as the "Hometown of Dragon Lanterns". There are 126 dragon lanterns in the town, and almost every village and bay has the custom of dragon dancing. The most representative one is the dragon dance on the 13th and 15th of the first lunar month every year. It is the same as the 26 dragon lanterns in Dongtianfu Temple and Houjia Temple (i.e. "township dragon lanterns"). These dragon lanterns are made of two pieces of hemp. The rope connects the dragon's head and dragon's tail, which looks unique, and makes the dragon's head and dragon's tail independent, which makes playing more labor-saving. The number of Yangdian dragon lanterns cannot be increased or reduced, and they cannot be transferred at will. They are all managed by their respective "headmen" (i.e. the initiators and organizers of the dragon dance that year, who take turns taking turns every year). People here worship and love dragon lanterns. Playing with dragon lanterns is completely organized and voluntarily participated by the villagers. It is truly a mass activity without any government intervention. Dragon lanterns are lively, harmonious, traditional and well-behaved. The rules of playing with dragon lanterns retain the traditions of the ancestors. The time for playing with dragon lanterns is fixed every year, the route is fixed, and the order of gathering is also fixed (by convention). The Yangdian dragon lantern is affectionately called the "Lamp God Bodhisattva" by the local elderly people in Yangdian. Of course, in the past, due to disputes over the order of appearance of dragons and dragons, the dragon's head, body, and tail danced improperly, and there were also group fights in clan boundaries. With the strengthening of local management, it is prohibited to play with Bawang lanterns, house lanterns, and door head lanterns, and promote the use of civilized lanterns, harmonious lanterns, and safety lanterns.

The "Township Dragon Lantern" includes 5 old streets left over from the Ming Dynasty (West Street, North Street, Zheng Street, Zhongdian, East Street) and 12 natural villages (Xiajiazhai, Feng Liufan, The dragon lanterns of Liujiazhai, Zhangjiawan, Zhoujialou, Wangjiazhai, Yangjiawan, Mantangfan, Zhangjiafan, Gongjiagang, Xiejialin and Liujiagang). The dragon lanterns in these more than ten villages (streets) have always danced together on the 13th and 15th of the first lunar month, and they also worshiped the same temples - Dongtianfu Temple and Houjia Temple, which are Yang There are one of the few "unity lamps" and "friendship lamps" in the town. The dragon lanterns in more than ten villages (streets) are used to pay New Year greetings to each other on the 13th and 15th of the first lunar month every year. It is said to be the most beautiful dragon dance story in Yangdian Town. At the same time, it is also passed down by word of mouth among the tourists who come to Yangdian to see the lanterns. It is the most widely circulated and even attracts some friends from other provinces and even foreign countries to watch it "admiringly". In addition, it should be noted that on the afternoon of the 13th day of the first lunar month every year, the dragon lanterns and "doll stilts" of Chujiang Yuan will also worship Dongtianfu Temple and Houjia Temple. Chujiangyuan is the only bay with stilts in the township.

The five streets of West Street, North Street, Zheng Street, Zhongdian and East Street are the only way for all dragon lanterns in the town to worship the Dongtianfu Temple. During the "half month" period, these five streets are the center. The south of the streets is called Zhennan, and the north of the streets is called Zhenbei. In the north of the town, people mainly play with single lanterns (only one dragon lantern). Playing "lone lantern" and playing "independent lantern" are not the same concept. "Independent lantern" refers to the "free dragon lantern" that does not dance with other villages and bays. The dragon lanterns of Chujiang Academy are "independent lanterns".

There are 10 streets on West Street, North Street, Zheng Street, Zhongdian and East Streets, 1 each for Feng Liufan, Wangjiazhai, Xiejialin, Liujiagang, Daozi Yangjiawan, Mantangfan, Zhangjiafan and Gongjiagang (8) , other bays (streets) 2 each (18), plus "Chujiangyuan" independent lamp (1) *** 27 towns in Nanxiajiazhai, Feng Liufan, Liujiazhai, Zhangjiawan, Zhoujialou, Wangjiazhai 10 towns Beidangzi Yangjiawan, Mantangfan, Zhangjiafan, Gongjiagang, Xiejialin, Liujiagang 6 independent Chujiangyuan 1 dragon lantern illuminated place name quantity (items)/color remarks West Street 2/ Light red, dark red (the upper picture in the picture is light red, which is the first light; the lower picture is dark red, which is the second light). The first street of Yangdian’s five streets is also the westernmost street;

Every year on the 13th day of the first lunar month, the "brothers' dragon lantern" is "consecrated", the 14th day of the first lunar month is "celebrated" and the 15th day of the first lunar month is "lit", which is rare on Yangdian Street;

Every year on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, we often spend half a day in the morning with dragon lanterns on North Street, Zheng Street and Wangjiazhai to pay New Year greetings to businesses, hospitals and other public places. North Street 2/A street to the north between Wu, Chengxi Street and Zheng Street is It is North Street;

The Oolong on North Street is the only Oolong in the town;

Every year on the 14th day of the first lunar month, dragon lanterns on West Street, Zheng Street and Wangjiazhai are often held for half a day. Let’s send New Year greetings to businesses, hospitals and other public places. Main Street 2/ Bai and Zizheng Streets are the center of the five streets in Yangdian;

Every year on the 14th day of the first lunar month, half a day in the morning is often followed by West Street and North Street. Together with the dragon lanterns of Wangjiazhai, we wish New Year greetings to businesses, hospitals and other public places. Zhongdian 2/The longest street among the five streets of Huang and Chengyangdian;

Each dragon lantern has its own independent Horse's feet are the only two streets with horse's feet among the five streets in Yangdian (as shown in the picture). East Street 2/White and Red East Street are blocked by gas stations, so they are the only street not connected to the previous four streets and are also the easternmost ones. Street;

The white dragon in front and the red dragon in the back face each other (the white dragon faces east and the red dragon faces west);

There is a Dongtian Fu Temple;

There are many horses in Xiajiazhai 2/The red and white buildings have the Xia family ancestral hall;

Usually the two dragon lanterns are far apart, one behind the other. At critical times, the white dragon at the back will merge with the red dragon at the front;

The head and tail of the white dragon are both red;

Ma Jiao Duo Feng Liu Fan 1/Red Every year on the 13th day of the first lunar month, they often dance with the dragon lanterns in Xiajiazhai and are inseparable. Liujiazhai 2/Purple and Red One of the dragon lanterns was "made in one night" (see this entry "Gonzo Pairs in One Night") Zhangjiawan 2/Both two are red, also known as " "Gunzi River Zhangjiawan", or can be directly called "Gunzi River Village"

There is a Zhang family ancestral hall;

The tails of the two dragon lanterns are different and Zhoujia Tower 2/The two lion heads in Zhoujialou, both in red, are the largest lion heads in the town, and the lions are the strongest and quite energetic. Wangjiazhai 1/Huang often spends half a day on the morning of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month every year with West Street, North Street, The dragon lanterns on the main street pay New Year greetings to businesses, hospitals and other public places. Yangjiawan

(It cannot be directly called "Yangjiawan") 1/Red will be celebrated on December 12 every leap year. Add one section (13 sections) on the basis of the festival. Mantang Fan 1/Red Every year on the 13th day of the first lunar month before going to the Houjia Temple, we often greet the dragon lanterns from the distance with the dragon lanterns in Yangjiawan, Zhangjia Fan 1/Red Every year on the 13th day of the first lunar month. In front of the Houjia Temple, they often greet dragon lanterns from afar with the dragon lanterns from Gongjiagang. Gongjiagang 1/Hong shared a lantern with Zhangjiafan a long time ago. Later, after the two bays separated, they built another one, so the appearance and color are the same. The dragon lanterns in Zhangjiafan are almost the same (the dragon heads were changed later). They are also placed one behind the other when going out. It can be said that the dragon lanterns in Zhangjiafan are twins. Jiejialin 1/Red. The dragon lanterns in Jiejialin will have the dragon lanterns in Liujiagang. The two dragon lanterns Inseparable, like a shadow Liujiagang 1/Huang There are no lions in Liujiagang, there are two "poodles" (pictured) Chujiangyuan 1/Red There are "baby stilts", known as the "Hometown of Stilts" in Yangdian Town ※ In the township, all White dragons are collectively called "old dragons" or "white old dragons". There is an old dragon in Main Street, East Street and Xiajiazhai. Among them, the white dragon in Zhengjie is the real and authentic "old dragon" and the most qualified to be called "old dragon", possessing the supreme status. No dragon lantern can compare with it. The seniority and status of all dragon lanterns are one level lower than the old dragon on the street. A long time ago, the Zhengjie Bailong was not what we see today. The former Zhengjie Bailong was a two-story dragon with no body and only a dragon head and tail. All dragon lanterns must pass from the side of the dragon head to the side of the dragon tail. The main street Bailong you see now was actually renovated later.