Zhongfan (Jian'ou tiaofan)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Zhongfan (Jian'ou tiaofan)

Applicant: Jian'ou City, Fujian Province

Project No.: 285

Project No.: VI - 3

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional sports, recreation and acrobatics

Region: Fujian Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Jian'ou City, Fujian Province

Protection unit: Jian'ou Cultural Center

Introduction to Zhongfan (Jian'ou tiaofan)

Applicant: Jian'ou City, Fujian Province

Zhongfan is an ancient folk art in China, mainly distributed in Xianghe County, Zhengding County, Hebei Province and Jian'ou City, Fujian Province. It originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties and has a history of more than 1000 years. Zhongfan is composed of flag pole, umbrella, flag, flag face and bell. It has more than ten routines and more than fifty movements. It integrates modeling, appearance and other difficult skills, and has certain entertainment.

Jian'ou flag is a unique folk traditional cultural and artistic heritage in Jian'ou City, Fujian Province. After the national hero Zheng Chenggong regained Taiwan in the late Ming Dynasty, he tied the military flag brought back by his soldiers to the head of a long bamboo pole and waved it to express his nostalgia for his brothers who died bravely. From then on, the military comforted the heroes with this etiquette every year, followed each other for generations, and gradually evolved into a unique folk flag picking custom in Jian'ou, which has a history of more than 340 years.

Jian'ou tiaofan not only has its historical connotation, but also has its unique style in the production process. In terms of shape, the Jian'ou Tiao banners require the selection of about 10 meters of straight bamboo, cutting off the branches and leaves, applying vermilion paint, and painting various auspicious patterns. Under the lantern is a hexagonal pagoda made of bamboo bone and colored silk. Several small copper bells are hung around the pagoda. At the bottom of the pagoda, a brocade banner is hung along the pole, and the banner is embroidered with praise words. According to the identification, the longest flag is 10.2 meters and the weight is 20.6 kg. Today's Jian'ou Tiao banners are constantly carried forward on the basis of retaining the traditional techniques, forming a set of colorful, novel and difficult new routines, such as "dancing the east wind, shouldering the southern pine, holding the military order in the elbow, biting the North Sea tower, carrying the Baizhan flag in the mouth, carrying the Qiankun stick in the nose, kicking the Western pillar" and so on.

Jian'ou tiaofan has the dual functions of cultural entertainment and physical fitness. Its colorful performance not only shows strength, but also reflects skills. The performance is accompanied by classical costumes and folk music of gongs and drums. It is bold and elegant, showing the profound historical and cultural significance of the integration of Central Plains culture and Fujian and Vietnam culture.