Hu Ji Book Fair

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Huji Book Fair

Applicant: Huimin County, Shandong Province

Item No.: 507

Project No.: Ⅹ - 59

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Shandong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Huimin County, Shandong Province

Protection unit: Huimin County Cultural Center

Introduction to Hu Ji Book Fair:

Applicant: Huimin County, Shandong Province

"Huji book fair" is a kind of Folk Art Fair which rises and takes root in Huji Town, Huimin County, Shandong Province. According to folklore, it has a history of more than 300 years. It originated from the competitive activities of Quyi artists at first, and then gradually evolved into spontaneous folk quyi exchange activities with the nature of convention and friendship.

Every year, the twelfth day of the first month of the lunar calendar is the "partial Festival" of the Huji book fair, and the fifteenth day is the "positive Festival". At every book fair, the artists arrived at Huji before the evening of the 11th, stayed at the villagers' houses, and collectively held "wangkong", "Baomen" and other social activities. From 8 am to 1 pm the next day, they gathered near Gangou in the southeast of the town to sing. There are Xihe Dagu, wooden Dagu, bamboo blackboard writing, storytelling, Bohai Dagu, Shandong kuaishu, Shandong Qinshu, yugushu and other forms of Quyi performance at the book fair. Nearby people and representatives of the villages came to watch in turn. After selecting the artists and programs, they took away the artists' musical instruments to show the deal. From the evening of that day to the 16th day of the first lunar month, the entertainer performed for four consecutive days in the house or unit where he invited to perform, and he was paid quite well.

When the book fair was prosperous, in addition to the artists from nearby areas and the province, there were also foreign storytellers from Liaoning and other places. At most, it reached more than 300 stalls, with an audience of more than 100000 people.

Huji Book Fair has always been a spontaneous activity of folk artists. During the book fair, people with high popularity hold ceremonies such as memorial ceremony and apprenticeship ceremony. In 1985, the government built a quyi hall with a capacity of more than 800 people, leveled the venue, effectively managed and properly placed the artists, which was very popular.

Huji book fair, as a spontaneous and simple folk art trading activity, has a long history and far-reaching influence. It has played a positive role in the exchange and development of folk art and the enrichment of people's festival entertainment life.