Custom of ancestor worship

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: the custom of ancestor worship

Applicant: Jiedong County, Guangdong Province

Item No.: 997

Project No.: Ⅹ - 90

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: folk customs

Region:

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Jiedong County, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Jiedong District Cultural Center, Jieyang City

A brief introduction to the custom of ancestor worship (lantern pole and colorful Phoenix custom)

Applicant: Jiedong County, Guangdong Province

Erecting a lamp pole to raise a colorful Phoenix is a traditional folk activity in gangpan village, Jiedong County, Guangdong Province, and the people of Jiang surname around it to commemorate their ancestor, Jiang Wanli, the patriotic Prime Minister of the Southern Song Dynasty.

At the end of Song Dynasty, the right Prime Minister Jiang Wanli was captured and died in the country. His grandson Jiang ruzu and his family settled in Longsha, Jieyang. When the Jiang family passed down to the 11th generation, the people found a bamboo forest with a phoenix perched on the Bank of the river, remembering that the ancestor Jiang Wanli was happy with the Phoenix in his life. The descendants of the Jiang family used the form of "erecting a lamp pole to raise a colorful Phoenix" to commemorate the ancestor Jiang Wanli, which means that they will not forget their ancestors and pass it on from generation to generation.

A lantern is hung at the end of the bamboo. Above the lantern is a colorful Phoenix. Both the tail and the body of the Phoenix are covered with red satin embroidered with gold thread. The words "auspicious" and "happy" are written on the top. A wind chime is hung under the Phoenix. When the wind blows, the "colorful Phoenix" turns and the bell is clear and sweet. During the day, a branch of bamboo, a "colorful Phoenix", one by one, is extremely spectacular; at night, lanterns and all kinds of flashing lights installed on the "colorful Phoenix" light up together, forming a colorful lamp city, brilliant and magnificent.

It is a unique folk activity in Chaoshan area and even in China. It is of great significance to carry forward the traditional humanistic spirit of the Chinese nation, enrich people's cultural life, and enhance community cohesion. It also has important folklore, history, and technology values.