The Legend of the Dragon - Oolong:
The Longtan Fort at the foot of Shaohua Mountain originally had only a dozen households. Living in the village: a father and daughter named Liu, who make a living by selling tofu. The daughter's name is Zhufeng, and she is pretty and handsome.
One day Zhufeng went to carry water, and a small black snake hung up on the hook. She caught the little black snake and put it on the well platform, saying, "It's so pitiful, let it go!" The little black snake nodded to her, turned around and ran into the well.
Zhufeng had just entered the house carrying water when she heard someone calling her from behind. When I turned around, I saw a handsome young man in his twenties. The young man took Zhufeng's hand, placed a round bead in her palm, and said: "I am the fifth prince of the Dragon King of Weihe River. I was playing in the dragon pool just now and accidentally bumped into your hook to break free." No, thank you for saving me. This is a dragon ball. If you put it in the water tank, you won't have to carry water every day. If you have any trouble in the future, just say it." After that, he disappeared. Shadow. Zhufeng chased him out the door, only to see a cloud of white mist at the mouth of the well, and heard several splashing sounds from the well water. She felt as if she was in a dream, and when she looked at her hand, it was clearly a jewel. After entering the house, she threw the dragon ball into the water jar. The water splashed, and a jar full of clear water came up. She took a sip and found it was sweeter than the well water. Zhu Feng knew it was a treasure and told no one. , even her father-in-law kept it secret. I just often think of Oolong. Every day I go to the well platform to pick up a load of water and peek into the well secretly.
In Sunjiabao, four or five miles away from Longtan Fort, there lived a wealthy family named Yin Lizian. When Zhufeng's mother died, Old Man Liu had no money to bury her, so he borrowed ten taels of silver from Yin Caidong. He was poor and couldn't afford to pay back the money, but he often sent some tofu to the Yin family, which he regarded as payment of interest. Yin Caidong didn't press for these ten taels of silver. He was happy to eat tofu all year round without spending money to buy them.
Girl Zhufeng became more and more mature as she grew older. Yin Lixian suddenly turned his head and came up with Zhufeng's evil plan. First, a eloquent matchmaker was hired to persuade Zhufeng to give her a betrothal gift. Old man Liu refused, but Zhufeng was stubborn and picked up the gift box and threw it out the door. The matchmaker was disappointed.
When Yin Caidong found out, he rolled his eyes angrily and cursed: "You old man, you are so shameless. I haven't paid back ten taels of silver for more than ten years. Huh! You can't even pay back the principal and profits." If you don't say anything about what you can pay within two or three days, if you can't pay the money, huh!" He narrowed his eyes and sneered: "Ask Miss Zhufeng to pay the bill!" When the words reached Old Man Liu's ears, he had no idea. Zhufeng just crawled on the edge of the kang and cried, thinking about what to do. When she fell asleep in the middle of the night, she ran to the well platform, gritted her teeth, and screamed: "Mom, I'm coming with you!" "As soon as he closed his eyes, he jumped into the well.
Zhufeng felt dizzy, as if he was flying in the clouds. Suddenly he heard someone shouting next to his ear: "Zhufeng, sister Zhufeng! "Slowly he opened his eyes and saw that he had not fallen into the water, but was lying on Wulong's arm. "Brother Wulong! "She fell into Wulong's arms and burst into tears as if she were seeing a relative. Wulong advised her, "Zhufeng, I know everything about you, don't be sad. Dog Caidong is rich and unkind, and God cannot tolerate it. Let me take care of this old dog. "...I will send you back!" Zhufeng refused, and he whispered in her ear for a while, which made Zhufeng tearfully smile and nod her head repeatedly. .
Hearing Zhufeng throwing herself into the well, the villagers went down to the well with torches to save people. When Wulong saw someone coming down, he whispered to Zhufeng: "Good sister, I won't send you off." He held up Zhufeng with both hands. The man who went down the well touched Zhufeng, quickly tied a rope and rescued her.
In the dead of night, Zhufeng taught her father everything about her and Oolong. The old man was secretly surprised, but he was also dubious. Zhufeng picked up the dragon ball from the urn, and when the old man saw that it was indeed not a worldly thing, he believed Zhufeng's words. The news that Zhufeng jumped into the well and was saved reached Yin Lixian's ears. The old thief twirled his beard and laughed evilly: "Hey, it's obviously God's favor. I, Yin, have a lot of wealth and a box full of gold and silver. How can I have such a beautiful woman?" , It’s really...ah, hey..." The thief rolled his eyes and ordered his servants to separate and prepare to go. Early the next morning, the old thief led a group of servants and ran towards Zhufeng's house. Halfway through, a gust of wind blew up the sand and rocks, making the sky and the ground dark. The wealth and gifts they brought had long since been blown away, and the Yin thief and his horse fell to the ground. After the strong wind passed, the old thief saw that although the gifts were empty and the people and horses were there, he rubbed his crooked nose, led a group of family members, waved sticks, and went straight to Old Man Liu's house to snatch the pearl and phoenix.
Oolong saw that the old thief had done what he had done three times and still did not change. When the old thief rushed to the edge of the well, he showed his true form, holding a dragon ball in his mouth and spurting out a stream of clear water.
Suddenly there was lightning and thunder, and the waves were surging into the sky. The Yin thieves cried like wolves and howled like ghosts. They rolled with the waves and were washed into the Weishui River, where they fed the fish and turtles.
After a while, the clouds disappeared and the sky was filled with glow. A huge black dragon danced in the clouds, with the Pearl and Phoenix girl sitting on the dragon's back. After flying to the top of the mountain, Wulong lay down to rest, and Zhufeng waved goodbye to his father and fellow villagers.
From then on, people called the village Longquan Village, and later changed it to Longtan Fort. The hilltop where the dragon rested was also named Wulong Mountain. Over time, it was also called Wulong Mountain.
The Legend of Dragon - Dragon Boat:
Dragon boat racing, also known as "dragon boat racing", "dragon boat rowing", "dragon boat racing", etc., is a long-standing mass entertainment activity . There are different reasons for its origin, mainly as follows:
One theory is that it is to commemorate King Gou Jian of Yue who trained the navy and defeated the state of Wu. "There is a rumor from across the country that the boat race started with Gou Jian, the king of Yue, and today's dragon boats are like this." ("Origin of Things·Duanyang") Wu and Yue fought, and Gou Jian was defeated and captured. He lived a humiliating life in Wu for three years. He deceived King Wu Fu Chai into trusting him and was returned to Yue Kingdom. After returning to China, he worked hard and was determined to avenge his humiliation. He established a navy on the fifth day of May that year and began training. Finally, a few years later, he wiped out the Wu Kingdom in one fell swoop. In order to demonstrate Gou Jian's perseverance, later generations imitated the scene of the Yue navy's drill and held a rowing race on May 5th to commemorate it.
The second theory is to commemorate Wu Zixu and Cao E. Legend has it that Wu Zixu was slandered and thrown into the waves of the Qiantang River by the king of Wu. Cao E went to rescue him in a boat. "On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, when the time came to welcome Wu Jun, he went up against the waves and was flooded" ("Cao E Monument"). Later generations rowed dragon boats and became a rescuer.
The third saying is to commemorate Qu Yuan, the doctor of Chu. This statement is generally accepted, and its written records first appeared in "Xu Qi Xie Ji" written by the Liang people in the Southern Dynasty: "Qu Yuan, the Chu doctor, was slandered and died that day by throwing himself into the Miluo River. The Chu people mourned him and saved him with a boat. Duanyang Racing is a traditional custom."
In addition to the above, there are also some different opinions in different places. In the southeastern region of Guizhou, there is a saying that the dragon boat race is to commemorate the old man who sacrificed his life to kill the poisonous dragon; the Dai people of Yunnan believe that it is to commemorate the ancient hero Yanhongwo (also known as "Yanhongwo"). There are also sayings such as "welcoming the summer solstice" and "avoiding evil days" - May is the "evil month" and the fifth day of May is an unlucky day.
These statements all have their own truths, but none of them clearly explains the most basic question: whether it is to commemorate someone, or to "welcome the summer solstice" or "avoid evil days", why Why should we hold a "Dragon Boat" race? In other words, why race "dragon boat" instead of racing other "boats"?
To answer this question, we have to start with the basic divinity of the dragon. We have said that dragons have divine attributes such as being fond of water, good at flying, fickle, and auspicious, and have the divine functions of making clouds and rain, controlling water and regulating water. Since there is such divinity and priesthood, it is only natural for him to be worshiped by the people of all ethnic groups living in the water towns and rivers and lakes. The consciousness of worship must be externalized into specific behaviors. These behaviors include: offering sacrifices to gods, offering human delicacies to gods, accompanied by incense, and letting them enjoy them; entertaining gods, singing, dancing, and thinking of ways to make gods happy; imitating gods, imitating the behavior and form of gods, expressing He has a close relationship with the divine object, and he has been endowed with "divine nature", so that he can "manifest the spirit". This is probably the underlying motivation for the "Dragon Boat Race". People believe that through the grand dragon boat racing, the dragons in the sky and water can be inspired and entertained, thus rejuvenating their divinity, fulfilling their divine duties, and blessing a place with good water, soil, weather, and good harvests and fisheries. At the same time, it also makes people themselves endowed with dragon nature, as strong and vigorous as dragons, and thus timid against evil and overcome difficulties. As for commemorating someone, it is just an attachment. The reason is probably that the "human nature" of these outstanding figures is similar to the "divine nature" of the dragon, and they share a part of the dragon's "divine duties" to some extent. For example, Wu Zixu was once worshiped as the "narcissus", "wave god", "tide god" and "river god" in the Yangtze River waters; Qu Yuan was also named "King Guangyuan Shunji", and "the river god is the doctor of Chu" Qu Yuan" theory.
"Dragon boat" is a vessel made into a dragon shape or engraved with dragon patterns. In ancient times, the emperors who were known as the "True Dragon Emperors" usually rode dragon boats when traveling on waterways. For example, "The emperor rode a bird boat and a dragon boat floated in the marsh" ("The Biography of Emperor Mu"), "Going on the dragon boat, he was lucky to be in the Jiangdu" ("Book of Sui Dynasty"). The dragon boat the emperor rides on is tall, spacious, majestic and luxurious, with towering pavilions on the boat, fine carvings on the boat body, painted gold decorations, and extraordinary appearance.
The "Big Dragon Boat" painted by Li Song, which was ordered by the Painting Academy of the Southern Song Dynasty, is an example. The dragon boats used for folk racing are not comparable to the royal dragon boats. They are generally made narrower and longer to facilitate the competition.
The shape of dragon boats used for ferry racing changes with the times and varies from region to region. According to records, the dragon boats on the West Lake in the old days were about four to five feet long, with high head and tail, and were painted in the shape of a dragon. The middle cabin had two floors, with a dragon-headed prince and a swing frame on the bow, both dressed as children. The prince stood still and the swing Moving up and down; "Eighteen kinds of martial arts" such as bows, crossbows, swords, and halberds, and various flags are displayed next to them. There is a centipede flag at the tail, gongs and drums are being beaten on the lower level of the middle cabin, and sailors are rowing boats beside them.
The dragon boats in Suzhou are divided into various colors, with flags at the four corners, drummers lying in the middle cabin, and sixteen rowers on both sides. The pole maker holds a long hook and stands on the bow of the boat, which is called head-stopping pole. On the bow pavilion, children with good faces are selected and dressed up as Taige stories, called the Dragon Head Prince. The stern of the boat is more than ten feet high, and is tied with colorful ropes. Children who are good at playing in the water perform performances such as "Take the Top", "Children Worship Guanyin", "The Rising Sun", and "Yang Fei's Spring Sleep".
The modern dragon boats used for ferry racing are much simpler than those in the old days. The boats are divided into red dragon, green dragon, yellow dragon, white dragon, black dragon and so on according to their colors. The hull, the umbrellas, flags and other decorations on the boat, as well as the rowers' clothing and even the oars, all need to be of the same color. The dragon boats in Hubei, Hunan and other places are as short as more than seven feet and as long as more than eleven feet. When paddling, they feel like a dragon swimming in the water. Fujian dragon boats have a dragon head carved on the bow, with a mouth that can open and close and a tongue that can rotate. Guizhou's dragon boats are made up of three canoes. The longer one in the middle is called the "mother ship" and is directed by a drummer. The two shorter canoes on both sides are called "child ships".
The rituals, regulations, techniques and scenes related to ferry racing also vary from time to time and place.
"On May 5th, the sky was bright and clear, and the poplars circled the river and sang the dawn orioles. Before I left the county house, I could hear the chorus of harmony on the river." "The drum sounded three times and the red flag opened, and two dragons leaped. Coming out of the floating water, thousands of swords are flying in the waves, and thousands of thunders are breaking through the waves. The drums are getting closer and closer, and the two dragons are looking at the target like a flash. Come. The championship is won at the high point, and the wind rolls into the dragon's beard and the snow piles up." The ancient poem vividly brings to life the lively scene of the dragon boat race hundreds of years ago.
The "standard" mentioned in the poem is the "standard pole" or "standard ship", which is the target for each dragon boat to compete for. On the "benchmark" are hanging brocades, silver bowls, coins and other prizes, standing in the water, and whoever comes first quickly can get it. The "mark boat" is set at the end point. When the racing dragon boats approach, the "mark" is thrown into the water and let the "dragons" fight for it. Marked with "fish mark", "duck mark", "iron mark", etc. Fish tags and duck tags are alive and swim away immediately when put into the water. It is not easy to catch them all at once. The iron mark is heavy and will fall to the bottom of the water. If you don't have excellent diving skills, you won't be able to catch it either. Therefore, dragon boats usually have one or two "markers" with excellent water skills who are responsible for winning the bid.
In some places, "winning competitions" are also popular - that is, tourists watching the boats buy earthen pots or ducks and throw them into the water, and the dragon boats participating in the ferry race enter the water to compete for entertainment.
A grand sacrificial ceremony is usually held before the dragon boat race. For example, on the banks of the Miluo River where Qu Yuan threw himself into the water, sacrifices are made to Qu Zi Temple before the dragon boat race every year. Men, women, old and young from all over, carrying dragon heads, gathered in batches under the statue of Qu Yuan, kowtowed, expressed condolences, and paid tribute with rice dumplings, steamed buns, wine, etc. Then the officiant will tie a piece of red silk to the head of the "head dragon", and the "head dragon" will carry the dragon head to the river for a bath. After washing, the dragon head will be placed on the bow of the boat, and then the dragon boat race will begin. Different regions have different requirements. In some places, a few days before the dragon appears, a performance is performed to worship the gods, which is called "launching into the water". Going ashore to send a message to the gods is called "turning the dragon's head". The organizer of the boat race led many wanderers to erect a bamboo pole with leaves at the end of the bridge so that they could "come out to see the dragon and see its color" in the coming year, which was called "Diamond Five"; the people who came to each other on the first day of the lunar month were called "visiting guests". etc.
With the exchange of Chinese and foreign cultures, dragon boat racing has also spread to Japan and Southeast Asian countries. For example, boat racing is a popular activity in coastal areas such as Kyushu and Okinawa in Japan. But they don't call it dragon boat racing, but "dragon climbing". Singapore often holds national dragon boat competitions on the Dragon Boat Festival. Their dragon boat is covered in red and colorful decorations, and the drummer dressed as a "lion" and "a bear" stands at the front of the dragon boat, beating the big drum, directing and coordinating the movements of the rowers. The entire competition usually starts at two or three o'clock in the afternoon and does not end until the sun sets.
Dragon boat racing is a mass entertainment activity with strong folk culture. It is also a sport that is conducive to strengthening people's physical fitness and cultivating courage, perseverance and courage. Therefore, the Sports Commission of the People's Republic of China made a decision on May 16, 1984 to list dragon boat racing as an official event. In October of that year, the first national Qu Yuan Cup Dragon Boat Race was held in Foshan, Guangdong. On June 6, 1985, the Chinese Dragon Boat Association was established in Yichang City, Hubei Province. In July, the second Quyuan Cup Dragon Boat Race was held at the Gezhouba Sanjiang Channel, with more than 100,000 spectators. This kind of dragon boat race has been held for more than ten times so far. In recent years, the dragon boat racing competition system has become more and more perfect, the scale has become larger and larger, and it has developed into an international event.
Dragon boat racing requires wide and deep rivers, seas and lakes. The race cannot be carried out in places where the water is shallow and small and cannot float boats. As a result, people in shallow water areas made "dry dragon boats" and traveled around markets, high platforms, and venues, commonly known as "ghost-welcoming boats." There is such a custom in Jiangxi, and the time is also during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Building dragon boats is not just for ferry racing. For example, in the "Dragon Boat Festival" held by the Miao people in Qiandongnan and western Hunan in Guizhou, the dragon boats are not for competition, but mainly for taking dragon boats to visit villages and visit relatives and friends. Before the dragon boat is launched into the water, a singer sings an auspicious blessing song to wish the dragon boat a safe journey. Each boat has a "drum head", a respected old man elected by the whole village. He sits on the dragon's neck, beats the drum and gives orders, and presides over the activities on the boat. When the dragon boat passes the village, iron cannons are fired to inform relatives and friends, and firecrackers are fired on the shore. Relatives and friends then come forward to toast rice wine to the people on the boat, and hang ducks, geese, colorful silk and other gifts on the "dragon head". When the dragon boat docked, the sailors put glutinous rice balls and dishes on the side of the boat to eat without using bowls and chopsticks. At this time, women and children came one after another to "beg for food on the roadside." It is said that eating the food on the dragon boat can ward off disasters and provide refuge. The dragon boat is exquisite and beautiful in shape. The dragon body is made up of a mother boat and two daughter boats, called "child mother boats", both of which are hollowed out single logs. The dragon head is about two meters long, carved from water willow wood, and equipped with a pair of dragon horns that are more than one meter long. Due to the different coloring of the dragon head, it is divided into green dragon, red dragon, yellow dragon, etc. In order to protect the dragon boats, each village also built a "dragon awning". The Dragon Boat Festival starts on the 16th day of the fifth lunar month. The specific dates of the festival vary slightly from village to village. As soon as the whole village has harvested the rice seedlings, the dragon boat can be launched in the village, which lasts about three days. In the water towns of Guangdong, when dragon boats go out on a trip, every family will give rice wine to the boaters, and the old man will dot the eyes of the dragon before he goes into the water to swim. After the tour, the dragon head was enshrined in the Dragon King Temple, and the hull was buried in the sand and mud of the river bed to be dug out the next year for reuse. In the evening, the villagers will cook a large pot of "dragon boat rice", which can be eaten by anyone, so as to build "dragon relationships" and obtain "dragon blessings".