Lantern Dance (Qingtian fish Lantern Dance)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Lantern Dance (Qingtian fish Lantern Dance)

Applicant: Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province

Project No.: 642

Project No.: Ⅲ - 45

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Zhejiang Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province

Protection unit: Qingtian intangible cultural heritage research and Protection Center

Brief introduction of Lantern Dance (Qingtian fish Lantern Dance)

Applicant: Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province

Lamp dance has existed since ancient times. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a record of "lamp dance" with lamp as props. During the new year's Festival (especially the Lantern Festival) or the rituals of praying for rain, offering sacrifices and begging for a good harvest, the palace and the folk often perform lantern dance. At first, the lantern dance was characterized by the placement of characters, and then gradually developed into a folk dance style with the arrangement of colored lights to construct patterns and create artistic conception, which spread all over the country. According to the shape of lantern, lantern dance mainly includes dragon lantern dance, lion lantern dance, fish lantern dance, clam lantern dance, butterfly lantern dance, hundred bird lantern dance, lotus lantern dance, chrysanthemum lantern dance, wax lantern dance, boat lantern dance, lantern dance, cloud lantern dance, Hydrangea lantern dance and other forms of lantern dance. There are many forms of lantern dance, usually performed in group dance at night. As the actors walk and dance, the formation is constantly changing, and fireworks are also set off during the dance, making the scene spectacular. This kind of folk dance style mostly appears in the Han area, but also popular in some minority areas.

Qingtian fish lantern dance is the most representative traditional folk dance of fish lantern in Zhejiang Province. It is mainly spread in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province. It is the product of the combination of Qingtian fish culture and folk art. Liu Ji, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, who was born in Qingtian, developed the species and quantity of fish in the local fish lantern, and integrated a large number of array pictures into it, thus forming the Qingtian fish lantern dance with military practice style.

The props of the Qingtian fish Lantern Dance present the image of freshwater fish with field fish as the main body. The dance movements are designed according to the living habits of the fish. Gongs, drums, cymbals, cymbals, etc. are used as accompaniment instruments during the performance. The actors are dressed like ancient warriors with headbands, belts, wristbands and legs wrapped.

Every festival, people in Qingtian village have to perform fish lantern dance. At that time, the leader will hold a big red pearl with a long handle, and the participants will each hold a fish lamp. According to the command of the Whistler, they will go out of all kinds of array. At the beginning of the performance, the "entrance array" is often used, while at the beginning of the performance, the "fence array" is used as the basic array. At the climax, the "spring fish swimming", "summer fish jumping on the beach", "autumn fish loving the marsh" and "winter fish tying the dragon" are divided, and finally the "carp jumping on the dragon's gate" is used.

Qingtian fish lantern dance has a high artistic and historical and cultural research value. It has participated in cultural exchange activities at home and abroad for many times and achieved excellent results, known as "the first fish in the world".

Under the impact of modern commercial culture, the traditional Qingtian fish lantern dance began to decline, and the talents in performing skills, props production, music accompaniment and other aspects are decreasing, which is in urgent need of protection.