Youlong in gutian town originated from the Deng house in xiabao village during the Wanli period of Ming dynasty. According to textual research, Deng Ying, the eighth ancestor of Deng Wu, was born in the Ming Dynasty. He became a school inspector in Chaozhou and later settled in Chaozhou. His brother, Deng Gong, still lives in Gutian Dengwu. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Deng Gongzi's grandson went to Chaozhou to visit relatives, and when he saw the dragon dance in Chaozhou, he sighed and took it back to Gutian for imitation. Soon after, the Deng House in Gutian first went to Youlong during the Lantern Festival, and on the 14th night of the first month, the villagers were so happy that they lit Song Ming and set off firecrackers in front of every house to welcome them.
at that time, the dragon was small and short, with a diameter of only about .4 meters and a length of only over 2 knots. After many improvements, the height and width of the dragon have been set, and the production style of the dragon has been perfect, which has been inherited to this day. The height of the faucet is 2.4 meters, the length is 7 meters, the major diameter is .8 meters, the rim of the eye is .7 meters, and the mouth of the faucet is wide, containing a red dragon ball with a diameter of .6 ~ .7 meters, which is full of smoking and imposing momentum. Dragon waist is 2.2 meters in height, .7 meters in diameter and 4.3 meters in length. The dragon tail is 2.4 meters high, 6 meters long and .8 meters in diameter. Because the faucet is huge, when traveling, eight people are required in one shift, one person looks at the road to see if there are obstacles ahead, three people hold the faucet with ropes, and four people hold it from all sides to keep it balanced and reduce the burden of the dragon-holding person. The dragon tail was out of touch with the dragon body, and three people carried it behind. It is said that the dragon's tail is connected to the engine, which is similar to the real dragon, and will cause thunder, electric shock and storm, so it is not connected to the dragon's body. Each section (also known as "bridge") has a 6 cm hole at both ends of the dragon board, and a 2 m long dragon stick made of small bamboo is inserted into the hole between the sections to connect the dragons. The dragon stick is placed in the "insert bag" (a bag made of cowhide) at the lower end, so that the dragon can be lifted for a trip. Each bridge dragon must have at least two young people to be competent.
from the Qing dynasty to the Republic of China, there were 12 big dragons in Gutian, which were distributed in 11 villages including Shangbao, Zhongbao, Xiabao, Hualong, Chengdou, Changjiao, Shangyu, Xiayu, Donghua, Bailian and Yangdi. Among them, 9 dragons are held by two or three surnames, such as one held by the three surnames of Shangbao Chen, Lai and Sang. In Xiabao Village, Deng House and Wantang (Deng and Jiang surnames) are combined into one, and Zhouwu and Huangwu (Zhou and Huang surnames) are combined into one; Xiaoyangdi Deng, Zhan, Qian and 3 surnames are combined into one. Chang Jiao Cun Tong, Chen and Lin have three surnames in one.
after the founding of new China, the number of gutian dragons gradually decreased, leaving only three dragons, namely zhongbao, xiabao's dengwu, wantang and chengdou, in recent 1 years.
(2) Date of dragon coming out and burning
Thirteen dragons coming out and fourteen dragons burning: one in Xiaoyangdi;
Fourteen dragons are released and fifteen dragons are burned: one in Huakeng and one in Deng and Jiang (Deng Wu and Wan Tang);
Fifteen dragons are born and sixteen dragons are burned: Shangbao, Zhongbao, Yuanjia, Hutou, Xiayu, Yangdi, Chengdou and Changjiao.
Sixteen dragons are born and seventeen dragons are burned: Zhou and Huang have two surnames.
(3) Characteristics of the Dragon in Gutian
Among the 12 dragons in Gutian, the shapes are similar, and five dragons are the most distinctive. Here are the following:
The dragon in Dengwu is "old and good". Gu Tian Xia Bao Deng Wu started in Youlong during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. A few years later, Hong Caigong of the fifteenth generation of Deng Wu and Jiang Zhixian, a neighbor of Wantang, agreed with the year, and then Deng Wu and Wantang (Deng and Jiang) joined hands, and their heads and tails took turns to hold the same name for one year. The number of "bridges" of this dragon is generally about fifty or sixty knots.
The dragon in Zhongbao "grows well". In the Qing Dynasty, the names of Zhongbaojiang and Huahua were Heqinglong. With the growth of population, dragons also grew gradually. Starting from the reign of Qing Qianlong, they separated from each other and swam for one year. In order to maintain "good looks", at that time, the two surnames stipulated that no matter whether Jiang or Hua had a dragon, they needed more than 1 bridges. If it was really difficult to fill 1 bridges, they should also use dragon eggs to fill them. Every two bridges have a dragon egg, and since then, the two surnames have been implemented according to this regulation, maintaining the characteristics of "growing well".
In Youlong's history, there were two best in the world, and both of them had Chinese surnames. One was in 1946, with a length of 173 knots and more than 7 meters. The other time was in 22, with 23 knots and more than 9 meters.
The dragon in Huakeng is "high". The size and length of the dragon in Huakeng are the same as those in other villages, but the height when it starts swimming is unique and surprisingly high. The first pole of the faucet is one foot two feet long, the second pole is one foot nine, and the third pole is one foot eight, and so on, each bridge is one inch shorter. However, there are not many bridges, usually only thirty or forty, so the last dragon stick is eight feet high, which is more than two feet higher than that of other villages. The "dragon barge" should choose a special place, not a flat road, but a slope, where bridges are tied with short ropes, and shout "Get up!" Lift it all at once, and the movements should not be uneven. The dragon stick they used was not equipped with a grating, and its top was cross-shaped. When they shouted "Stop", they all put it down and let it go. Hua cheat people is very good at holding dragons, and his strength is amazing. The faucet does not need rope traction, and the dragon waist does not need to be inserted into the bag. When lifting the foot, it is hard to lift it with both hands. The dragon lifter only wears a belt around his waist. When he is tired, he can insert the dragon stick into the belt for a short rest. It's really spectacular to strut along the way. The dragon in Huakeng not only "flies high" but also "swims well".
The dragons named Xiabao Zhou and Huang are "well painted". Zhou and Huangwu used to be lanterns, but later they were changed to Youlong. Their dragon paintings are like holding a farmer's art exhibition, and the audience likes to see them. Apart from a small amount of Long Lin and clouds painted on the dragon, most of the paintings are dragons playing with pearls, Danfeng Chaoyang, Meilan Bamboo Chrysanthemum, Peony and Peony, Eight Immortals presenting treasures, Fairy Ji sending off children, roosters and white cranes, exotic flowers and plants, carp jumping over the dragon gate and so on. Their dragons are not only well painted, but also the poems and sentences on both ends are well inscribed. The font is really cursive and the ancient calligraphy style is integrated in one dragon, and the painting technique has been passed down from generation to generation, and it has been unbeaten for a long time. Therefore, their dragons have been praised as "well painted" since ancient times. Traveling between Tian Yuan
The four surnames of Chen, Jiang, Yang and Li in the city are "well carried". The dragon in the city pocket will swim by the river and take many field roads, but it is orderly and the audience applauds it.
(4) the significance of swimming in the dragon
1. The bridge of friendship and the bond of unity
Gu Tian Qinglong is a dragon with two surnames and three surnames. The relationship between the surnames of these Heqing dragons is very good. Like brothers, there has never been a sectarian fighting. Such as Hua and Jiang, have lived together for hundreds of years and the two sides get along very well. Youlong handed in the next year, and on the 15th day of the first month, if Jiang was a dragon, Youlong's head and the dragon's tail and his party had to hold a few chopsticks, incense, paper and guns, and two pairs of dragon candles to burn incense, put spears, and shoot guns at Hua's General Ancestral Hall to show their respect. If the Chinese surname is a dragon, the courtesy will return as usual. It has been passed down for more than ten generations, and it is still followed today. The two surnames live in harmony and live in peace.
2. Cultivating dragon-making artistic talents
Gu Tian's technique of making dragon is passed down from generation to generation. Father Zhalong and son helped each other, and they learned it invisibly for two years. The production of dragon includes 15 processes, including dragon board preparation, bones and muscles preparation, dragon head tying, dragon tail tying, dragon waist tying, dragon claw tying, dragon egg tying, pasting and mounting, dragon painting, cutting and pasting, inscription, lamp installation, dragon stick preparation, bag inserting and cloth inserting. The skeleton of the dragon is tied with bamboo sticks, covered with rice paper and painted with Long Lin and clouds. The production time is from the third day to the fourteenth day, and each dragon waist should last at least 4 days.
On the eighth day of the first month of p>1991, Longyan Camellia Festival was held. Gu Tian Dalong will travel in Longyan during the Camellia Festival. In late December, 3 people were organized to tie dragons in Longyan, and it took only ten days to tie a 18-section dragon and a 12-section dragon, and to mount them on their backs. On the second day of the year, 2 people were organized to draw dragons, so that the picture of each dragon was different, and the poems, sentences and couplets cut at both ends of each dragon were not repeated. Gutian Farmers' Poetry Society selected three talents who can write, draw and write poems. These people, without heavy expectations, completed the task of painting and writing poems and words on the seventh day of the lunar new year. A couplet inscribed on the faucet is: "The dragon in the world is the first; The Yancheng Flower Festival is the first time. " The word "Longyan" is easily embedded in it, and the title is very accurate. This time, the words and paintings of Dalong, who traveled to Longyan Tea Flower Festival, were well received by the literary and art circles.
Liancheng county displayed the majestic posture of Gutian Dalong in the large-scale folk street activities to celebrate the 1th anniversary of Longyan city. In the eyes of Yancheng citizens, there is a 79-knot dragon nearly 3 meters long.
3, exercise in fun, improve physical fitness
When holding a dragon, you should move your hands, feet, eyes, shoulders and head. It is the basic skill of dragon-lifting to stride forward, sink into the abdomen, and squat down steadily with both legs. When the dragon enters the corner (9-degree sharp turn), you don't know the trick, and you will definitely be tired and sweating. If it is windy, it is the most laborious thing. A dragon weighs a hundred pounds. At this time, you have to put your head against the wind, push your feet hard, spread your feet in eight steps, and hold the dragon stick tightly with your hands so that the dragon will not be blown down by the wind, and your strength will naturally come into play. Holding the dragon is an excellent physical exercise.
In p>1991, Dalong swam in Longyan Camellia Festival. "One night, the dragon travels around the world; Three times, Kyushu knows. " Gu Tian Dalong caused a sensation in Longyan City, and the foreign guests in Longyan witnessed Gu Tian Dalong's majestic posture with their own eyes and were full of praise. It was also filmed and broadcast to Malaysia and Taiwan Province, the treasure island of the motherland, causing a sensation. CCTV's "China Style" column broadcast the live scene of Gu Tian Dalong. In 1992, reporters and photographers from the provincial pictorial newspaper photographed Gu Tian's visit to Dalong and published it in Fujian Pictorial. Provincial and local newspapers and periodicals have published many articles about Gu Tian Dalong. On the eighth day of 1996, sctv broadcasted Gu Tian You Dalong. It's really Gutian Dalong, which is famous at home and abroad.
Gutian people love dragons and regard them as a symbol of praying for good weather, national prosperity and people's security. With the progress of social civilization, Youlong, a traditional activity, will surely develop more healthily and add luster to Chinese culture.
4, reflecting the unique material of Gutian
4.1 Bamboo resources for making Dalong
Gutian is rich in water conservancy, mineral resources and forest resources. The town has a forested area of 435, mu and a forest stock of more than 2 million cubic meters, making it one of the important forest areas in Liancheng. The bamboo forest covers an area of more than 6, mu, and there are 7.2 million bamboo stands. The important parts of making dragon skeleton and dragon stick are all from this bamboo forest.
4.2 rice paper pasted with Dalong
Liancheng rice paper has a history of more than 4 years. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, bamboo paper and leather paper were produced in Liancheng County. In the next year, the paper-making master from Gutian Town went to Shaowu to learn the local paper-making technology. After returning, he combined the local technology to improve and formed the unique production technology of Liancheng Xuan paper.
"It's not easy to slice paper, but it's seventy-two", which means that the natural bleaching process of Liancheng Xuan paper bamboo silk is complicated, and its working procedures reach 72. The main technological process is divided into two parts: material preparation and paper making, which takes about 8 months. The preparation of materials is mainly in the mountains. First, cutting green, that is, cutting tender bamboo in the mountains and putting it in the bamboo pond, takes 2 months to rot; Then, the soaked tender bamboo is washed into bamboo shreds, and the bamboo shreds are blown, first soaked in lime water, washed and cooked, then soaked in soda ash, and cooked again; After washing, the bamboo shreds are dried on bamboo poles to make bamboo shreds cakes. After bleaching in the mountains for 3 months, they are sent to the material storage room for material storage. Only then can the raw materials for papermaking be prepared. Firstly, the paper is fished by hand in the paper shed, and about 3 wet paper layers with a thickness of 15 cm are fished, and then the water is squeezed out; Then, it is sent to a paper baking room for baking; After baking, the paper is carefully arranged and selected by the master, and the unqualified paper is removed to ensure the quality of rice paper; Finally, cut the paper according to the specifications with a 6-cm-long paper-cutting machete, and sell it after packaging.
It is the unique production technology that makes Liancheng Xuan paper of high quality. The paper is moderate in thickness, strong in tensile strength, soft in texture, dense and durable, white and ink-absorbing, and can withstand wind and rain, sun exposure and strong light irradiation without changing color, enjoying the reputation of "not fading for a hundred years and not turning yellow for a thousand years". Moreover, Gutian's high-quality bleached rice paper has always been the material used by Sibao woodblock printing industry to print more important books and papers, which provides favorable conditions for the development of woodblock printing industry. At the beginning of the Republic of China, Liancheng Xuan paper industry reached its peak, with more than 1, hand-made paper troughs, more than 1, workers, and an annual output of 6, tons. There were more than 5 paper shops, and its products were exported to all parts of the country and Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and other places, making it one of the top five Xuan paper producing areas in China at that time.
Liancheng county took the initiative, and departments and enterprises cooperated with each other to actively declare the intangible cultural heritage of Liancheng Xuan paper making process. In September 27, this process was listed as the second batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage by Fujian Provincial People's Government. After the Spring Festival, every household in Gutian began to be busy lifting bamboo, preparing dragon boards and tying dragons. The production process of the dragon is quite complicated, including preparing dragon board, preparing bones and muscles, tying dragon head, tying dragon tail, tying dragon waist, tying dragon claw, tying dragon egg, pasting, painting dragon, cutting and pasting, inscription, lighting and so on. Each section of the dragon board is four meters long, and two ends are chiseled with a round hole for mutual connection. The faucet is 2.4 meters high and 7 meters long, and the Longkou contains a big red dragon ball, which is very powerful and powerful. The dragon waist is 2.2 meters high and 4.3 meters long; Longwei is 2.4 meters high and 6 meters long.
The Dragon is lifted and swam by five young adults in turn in each section, while the huge dragon can only move smoothly and steadily when three people are holding it, one is watching the road in front, and four people are pulling it from all directions with ropes. Looking at the young man with a bag on his shoulder and a dragon stick in his hand, he staggered out with a big dragon and had to deal with the squeeze before and after, so he couldn't help worrying about it. But for the local young people, it is very tiring, but it is very interesting. This is the most lively scene of the Chinese New Year.