Crane Dance (Sanzao Crane Dance)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Crane Dance (Sanzao Crane Dance)

Applicant: Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province

Project No.: 655

Project No.: Ⅲ - 58

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Sanzao Town Cultural Service Center, Jinwan District, Zhuhai City (Sanzao town veteran cadre activity center, Jinwan District, Zhuhai City)

Brief introduction of Hewu (sanzaohewu)

Applicant: Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province

Sanzao Crane Dance is a unique traditional dance performed only during the Spring Festival in Sanzao Town, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. There is a folk saying that white crane symbolizes longevity. Crane Dance is also a kind of etiquette and custom for Sanzao villagers to pay homage to the elderly over 60 years old and pray for the villagers over 30 years old. It is said that the dance has a history of more than 700 years.

The white crane in the crane dance has vivid modeling and beautiful dancing posture, which vividly interprets the living conditions of the crane, such as coming to the door, looking for food, washing mouth, combing hair, resting, playing and homing. During the performance, accompanied by gongs and drums, the auspicious "crane song" was sung. The scene was cheerful, warm and peaceful.

In Sanzao Town, there are three established rituals for the performance of Crane Dance: Kaiguang (worship ceremony, focusing on the "crane"), Bailao (family by family, praying for blessings), eclosion (in the past, it was the evening of the 15th day of the first lunar month to burn the crane clothes at the entrance of the village, but in recent years, it was changed to the seventh day of the first lunar month in order not to miss the agricultural time), which has rich cultural connotation and lofty moral realm.

At present, the old performers of Crane Dance are old, and the younger generation lacks enthusiasm to learn this traditional dance. The inheritance of Sanzao Crane Dance is endangered.