Shengfang Town, Langfang, Hebei Province, was built in the late Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,400 years ago, and developed from an ancient small fishing village. After the large immigration in the early Ming Dynasty, the population of Shengfang increased sharply. Soon merchants gathered and shops stood everywhere. It quickly developed into an important commercial and cultural town in North China. ".
In history, Shengfang Town was known as "28 temples, 72 flower fairs". According to tradition, the Shengfang Flower Fair is held every year from the 12th to the 16th of the first month of the lunar calendar. It has been passed down from generation to generation since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are currently 28 flower fairs that are all spontaneously organized by the people. The scale is large, the participants are wide, and the scene The prosperity is rare in towns across the country.
I witnessed it with my own eyes, and it was really shocking. What shocked me even more was that such a large-scale event was organized by various flower fairs, without government participation, and without police to maintain order.
Photo taken by Li Yan in Wentu on the fifteenth and sixteenth day of the first lunar month in 2011
When Emperor Qianlong passed by Shengfang to inspect the water conditions, he personally inscribed "The fragrance of lotus in Shengshui will last forever", which is a well-known story among the local people.
Shengfang has three treasures: theater building, archway and Wenchang Pavilion. Shengfang Opera Building, also known as "Jiucheng Building", was built in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in the Xianfeng period. Facing north and south, it is a majestic image.
Shengfang is located in the east of Baiyangdian Lake, which is rich in reeds. The business of reeds is also called Caoxing, and the most taboo thing in Caoxing is fire.
In the old days, people in Shengfang believed that fire was coming, so they came up with the idea of worshiping the god of fire by wandering the streets at the flower fair. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shengfang gradually formed the Seventy-two Flower Festival with the core of offering sacrifices to the Vulcan.
Every Lantern Festival, the Shengfang Township Art Association will organize these flower fairs to participate in the activities of entertaining the gods - the fair.
According to local folklore scholars, the patterns of scorpions and frogs (toads) painted on the face belong to the five poisons, implying to avoid evil and disaster.
Children with scorpions and frogs (toads) painted on their faces can be seen everywhere.
Before noon, the god of fire was invited out of the temple to make offerings. Some elderly aunts and aunts, please come to incense, pay respects, and bless the year with good weather and good luck.
The Taoist nuns played musical instruments and sang scriptures, and various flower festivals came to report, set off firecrackers, and worship the god of fire.
Following the three blasts of the cannon, more than 30 Shengfanghua clubs began to stage.
Flower clubs from all walks of life will head to the general meeting to submit posts and report.
At the beginning of the show, various flower festivals came to worship the Vulcan one after another. The not too wide Yuhuangmiao Street alley was crowded with various flower festivals and audiences, leaving nowhere to get involved.
At 12:30 noon, with the sound of three iron cannons from the Cannon Fair, more than thirty stalls of Shengfanghua Club began to hold the show. A performance troupe of nearly a thousand people dressed in traditional costumes started from Miaotou in Shengfang Ancient Town. Going out - Shaolin Wushu Club.
Out of the meeting - Zhongbanhui
Beizhong Banner Club.
Going out - babysitters.
babysitting club.
Walking meeting - small car meeting.
National "intangible cultural heritage" Southern Concert.
Every time they go to a wide place, the flower show will start, and various tricks will take turns. Shaolin Martial Arts Association.
Performing on the ground - stilts.
Performing on the ground - stilts.
Folk customs need children to participate in order to pass on.
When I was tired, I leaned on the electric pole to rest for a while.
The cars and houses on the ground were crowded with people watching the meeting.
The Shengfang Lantern Festival Flower Parade lasts five days from the twelfth to the sixteenth of the first lunar month, and the route is different every day.
According to the cadres in the town, the villagers here are relatively well-off, and they do not rely on tourism for food, but purely for self-entertainment.
Li Yan, author of Jinmen.com
