The custom of offering sacrifices to heaven on May 13th.

Every year, on the 13th day of the fifth lunar month, it is usually the summer solstice or before and after the light summer festival. It rains in normal climate, but it doesn't rain in abnormal years. Folks say that if it rains on this day, it is that Guan Gong is "sharpening his knife", and the water used to sharpen his knife comes from a worse heaven. Rain is a good omen, and the bigger the rain, the better, which indicates that the situation in that year will be "good weather, peace and prosperity." If it doesn't rain the next day, it's a bad omen, which indicates that there may be "natural disasters raging" or "social unrest" in that year. For a long time, people regarded it as a reference for observing weather signs and social dynamics, and it was widely circulated as an oral proverb. This is the dew drizzle that people expect on May 13.

Every year in the fifth month of the lunar calendar, if there is a dry day, our ancestors will say with anticipation, "May 13th is the first rainy season, so Master Guan should sharpen his knife and it is raining!" However, Guan Yu borrowed the rain from the East Sea Dragon King.

Legend has it that after Guan Yunchang's spiritual body ascended to heaven, the Jade Emperor gave him the title of "Du Feng's Imperial Advisor, the General Manager of Samsung, the Department of Thunder, Fire and Explosion". After being appointed, Guan Yunchang took office in Nantianting. He often visits the earth, cares about the sufferings of farmers, calls for rain, makes the world good weather and the safety of the country and people. Since the Jin Dynasty, officials from all over the country have supervised the local people to build the "Guan Temple", which is juxtaposed with the Confucius Temple that respects Confucius. Throughout the ages, the incense in front of the "Guandi Temple" has been very prosperous, and people come and go in an endless stream, which is famous far and near. The news spread to the South China Sea, but it aroused the envy of Nanhai Dragon. One year, when the crops were blossoming and bearing fruit, the dragon took advantage of Guan Gong's absence from Nantianting, opened his mouth against the waves and sucked up all the water in rivers and streams, causing crops in most parts of the country to dry up and wither. Seeing that the crops are about to fail, farmers are anxious like ants on hot bricks, and they go to Guandi Temple for rain everywhere, crying all over the sky. Two generals, Guan Ping and Zhou Cang, who are in charge of this matter in South Heaven, can't compete with the dragon. Seeing that the situation was not good, he rode on a pony and chased Guan Yu down the dragon. Guan Gong returned to Nantianting, overlooking the lower mountains and rivers, and the drought was severe. Guan Gong was very angry, so he played the script all night. The next day, he played the jade emperor in the morning, demanding that the imperial edict capture the demon dragon and kill people. The Jade Emperor allowed it to play and gave it a token of "playing first". After Guan Yu returned to Nantianmen, he immediately dispatched two generals, Zhou Cang and Guan Ping, to lead the mountain soldiers, and set the auspicious day of May 13th of the lunar calendar to grind the Qinglong broadsword outside the worse gate, and then went to war. At the right time, its sharpened water fell on the ground, forming a light rain, and then the heavenly soldiers rushed to the South China Sea to fight the demon dragon. Finally, they caught the dragon, pulled out its beard and tendons, and forced the demon dragon to spit out full water. The drought disappeared and the good weather was restored.

In order to learn this lesson, Guan Gong sharpened his knife himself and demonstrated outside the worse gate on May 13 every year. It rained. Therefore, in order to commemorate Guan Gong's good deeds of sharpening his knife to reduce the dragon and relieve the suffering of disasters, the people regarded this day as the "birthday of Guan Di" and went to Guandi Temple for a grand gathering, burning incense and offering sacrifices and praying for peace. Over time, it was mistaken for Guandi's "birthday" to celebrate. In fact, there are three days from May 13 to 10 * * every year. That is, the "sharpening day" on May 13, the birthday on June 24, and the killing day on 10 are also called God Day and Death Day.

The rain-praying ceremony in Liubu Town originated in the Jin Dynasty. One year, a once-in-a-century drought occurred in Huang Chao Village, Liubu Town. In order to save those crops that are dying of thirst, people have the idea of "asking for rain" from God. On a particularly hot noon, when the villagers were discussing how to pray for rain, they suddenly found a small white snake crawling out of the "General Temple" and crawling back and forth in front of the only pool at that time. Some people say that this is the incarnation of Guan Gong, and only with his help can we pray for a "sweet rain". People quickly bowed down and immediately invited the white snake back to the Sanguan Temple for worship (Sanguan Temple: Land, Guanyin and Guan Sheng) and sent someone to look after it. People decided to organize and set up an army of "praying for rain" spontaneously, hang the flags of "handsome", "dragon" and "tiger" (both flags are red teeth and white hearts, and write "good weather" at the same time, and draw a portrait of "dragon". While writing "bumper crops", I painted a portrait of "tiger" and went to Liubu Tianqi Temple to "pray for rain". Although the army of "praying for rain" is organized by villagers spontaneously, it is also subject to strict organizational discipline: first, before praying for rain, it is necessary to "bask in the sun", that is, put an square table in front of the Sanguan Temple in the village, invite the idol of the official from the temple to offer the table, and wear a wicker hat on the official's head to bask in the sun. Two, driving in the sun for three days, no one is allowed to wash clothes, take a bath and take out the garbage in the river; 3. All men who take part in praying for rain are not allowed to share the same room with women within three days, and married women are not allowed to take part in praying for rain. After four or three days, if it still doesn't rain, I'm ready to start driving and pray for rain.

The "Pray for Rain" team set off in a mighty way under the leadership of the gongs and drums team. Walking in the front are the "Shuai" flag, "Dragon" flag and "Tiger" flag. Followed by the specially designated "Old Dragon King", the black-faced old dragon king wore an embroidered robe and a jade belt, sitting on the "Dragon Chair" carried by four people, looking very powerful. Followed by two people who play the role of "rain turtle", each with a "water scorpion" painted on his face, dressed in colorful costumes, each holding two Hua Gun, tied with a piece of cloth (more than a dozen pieces), staggered towards the Dragon King while walking cross-legged. At this time, the "fishing king" was dressed in blue, with two bronze bells on his shoulders and a red belt around his waist, and shook the bronze bells as he walked. Behind them is a "water-splitting hag" made up by two people. They are walking and jumping with a "three-legged fork", also called a "horse fork". Then four people painted colorful faces to play the role of "Raytheon", each holding a pair of gongs wrapped in red cloth and jumping while walking, indicating that the sky is about to thunder. At this time, the "General Thunderbolt" dressed as a red and white face was dressed in red flowers, holding a wooden hammer in one hand and a wooden chisel in the other, and smashing the chisel while walking, indicating the coming of lightning. Then, there are unmarried women who play the role of "wind mother-in-law, rain mother-in-law", wearing colorful clothes, some walking with fans, and some walking with dustpans. Followed by the "Puyun Boy" (unlimited number), each person holds a mirror in his left hand and a fan in his right hand, and does the prescribed actions while walking. Walking behind are a number of entourage with dustpans and colorful banners. As they walked, they shouted: "drizzle with dew" and "drizzle with dew". The whole "Pray for Rain" team is spectacular.

Before the "rain-seeking" army set out, it went to the General Temple to "draw water". They first burned incense and paper in front of the General Temple, then set off from East Road (namely Huang Chao-Wopu-Liubu) and returned from West Road (around 70% village). When passing through Zheng Yifei Temple, the rain-praying team still has to burn incense, kowtow and block the streets in front of the temple (make a scene). In order to welcome the arrival of the army praying for rain, the villagers in the villages along the road held a grand welcoming ceremony. The villagers prepared cooked porridge, mung bean soup and dry food. At their doorstep, some even personally delivered meals to rain-seekers. After arriving at Tianqi Temple, they rushed to Tianqi Temple 108 steps. The rain-praying personnel first burned incense and paper in the east and west Langfang of the temple, and then the "Old Dragon King" led them to bow down in the main hall and "pray for a sign" from Master Tian. After the signing, the monk in the temple told the old dragon king according to the words on the bamboo stick: it's raining heavily, so hurry back. The rain-praying army flew back after receiving the "purport", and every time it just arrived at the head of 70% village, the pouring rain poured down.

According to the memories of the old people, praying for rain never fails. They said that the last time they prayed for rain was at 1946, but it was later stopped by the land reform team stationed in six departments, and no such activities were held again. However, in August, 2000, the "Into Nature" summer camp, composed of students from Jinjinjie Primary School in Jinan, camped at the top of the "Monk Hat" in Huang Chao Village. In order to welcome the arrival of these children, the literary and art groups in the village beat gongs and drums, played fake "dragon", "tiger" flags and "handsome" apricot flags, and held a literary evening with the students at the campsite. Some villagers in Liubu Tianqi Temple heard the sound of gongs and drums, and some people said that "Huang Chao is begging for rain again". Sure enough, the next morning, around 10, a heavy rain poured down. It may be a coincidence that it only rains in several villages near Huang Chao village. However, for many years, the story of Huang Chao begging for rain has been a topic of discussion in six regions.

The custom of offering sacrifices to heaven on May 13th has been circulating in Liubu town for a long time, and it has always been a spontaneous activity of the masses. Unable to resist disasters, the people fought with the help of Guan Gong, which reflected the simplicity and kindness of the people. On May 13th, Guan Gong sharpened his knife, which was widely circulated in six films to commemorate Guan Yu and the righteous. Concentrated expression of people's wishes, spiritual voices and spiritual sustenance, praying for good weather and good harvests. Now it seems that although there are superstitions, we will treat them dialectically. Today, it has become the first batch of intangible cultural heritage in Jinan.