Welcome Luohan

Name of Chinese national intangible cultural heritage: yingluohan

Applicant: Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province

Project No.: 1149

Project No.: VI - 66

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional sports, recreation and acrobatics

Region: Zhejiang Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province

Protection unit: Jinyun County Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Introduction to yingluohan

Applicant: Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province

Yingluohan is a traditional festival in Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province, which integrates acrobatics, martial arts and folk customs.

Since ancient times, the people of Jinyun have believed that "Luohan" is the incarnation of those who have great powers. Therefore, the people respect the powerful and excellent martial arts as "Luohan" and call the martial arts team "Luohan class". According to the records of Jinyun County annals by Kangxi of Qing Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Song Dynasty, foreign invaders were prevented, martial arts were practiced and self-defense was carried out. The village was called "Luohan class" by the people.

Every festival, the temple fair will hold activities to welcome arhat. Luohan was welcomed by several Luohan classes, with dozens to more than 100 people in each class. Before departure, each class should hold a solemn flag worship ceremony in the village, and then gather at the designated place. According to the agreed route, under the leadership of the array head flag and God flag, and accompanied by the sound of pioneer gongs and drums, they will step on the street with the long snake array. Every time they arrive at a village, they will choose a wide venue to perform the techniques of Luohan array, martial arts, overlapping Luohan and so on.

At present, there are more than 30 Luohan classes in the county, distributed in more than 10 towns and more than 50 villages, active in local traditional festivals and major temple fairs.

As a folk entertainment performance, yingluohan is not only a way to add festivity to the festival, but also a way to exchange martial arts among villages. It has been passed on from generation to generation and is deeply loved by the rural people. Yingluohan is full of simple local cultural characteristics, with high artistic appreciation and historical and cultural value.