High pole boat technology

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: high pole boat technology

Applicant: Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province

Project No.: 1151

Project No.: VI - 68

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional sports, recreation and acrobatics

Region: Zhejiang Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province

Protection unit: Tongxiang Cultural Center (Tongxiang jinzhonghua memorial hall, Tongxiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center)

Introduction to high pole ship technology:

Applicant: Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province

High pole boating is a unique water acrobatic performance in the sacrifice ceremony of silkworm God.

Zhouquan Town, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, is located at the intersection of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou. The river branches are as dense as cobwebs and spread all over the world. For a long time, most people have been engaged in sericulture production, and the sacrifice of silkworm God is the most important folk activity. The silkworm Flower Water Festival is held every year on three days before and after the Qingming Festival. The technology of high pole boat, which imitates silkworms to spin silk and make cocoons, came into being. According to local records, its art originated in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty, and flourished in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.

The high pole boat is made up of two agricultural wooden boats tied side by side and covered with wooden boards. The "high pole" is a thick bamboo with tips, which is based on a stone mortar and tied with three thicker bamboo to form a triangular support, so that the high pole can stand stably in the bow of the boat. During the performance, the performers climb to the top of the pole and make use of the body weight and the natural flexibility of the bamboo to make the upper end of the bamboo bend about 90 degrees, forming a high-altitude lever performance area parallel to the water surface. The performers choose the best balance point on the lever, and do the following physical skills, such as forward prying, reverse prying, reverse Zhang Fei, rigid support, foot hook, ankle pricking, toe pricking, sitting on the big futon, biting the big or small rising basket, bamboo encircling, bamboo broker, spider silk releasing, vertical stretching, lying silk, Zhang Fei selling meat, frog stretching waist, inverted rolling lamp, etc., with a total of 18 movements. The performers are dressed in white and perform among the green bamboo levers. From afar, they look like silkworms in clusters, curling their heads and spinning silk cocoons. They are vivid and handsome. It presents the thrilling and exciting situation of the boat running in the river, the pole standing on the boat and the people turning over on the pole. It shows the unique charm of acrobatics in water town and silkworm town. The high pole boat technique is not only difficult in skill and unique in shape, but also has scientific and ingenious facilities. By using the weight of the performer and the flexibility of bamboo, the landing point of the performer is led out of the hull and placed above the water. It seems dangerous, but in fact it is safe. It reflects the excellent wisdom, courage and unique aesthetic taste of local silkworm farmers.

In Yeming village of zhouquan Town, there are a large number of high pole climbers, and high pole boat skills are handed down from generation to generation. Now there are about 10 people who can perform high pole acrobatics, of which only one or two can complete a full set of movements. Among them, Tu Rongxiang, who is close to Huajia, always performs in Wuzhen scenic spot, while others perform during Qingming Festival.