*Zhanjiang Dragon Dance

*Zhanjiang Dragon Dance

Nominating Unit: City of Zhanjiang

The Dragon Dance in Dongshanxu Village, Dongshan Town, Donghai Island, Guangdong Province has been hailed as “the Oriental Special”. Dozens or hundreds of strong men and teenagers, in pants, stand one by one to form a “Changlong” (a long dragon). In the earspliting sound of gongs, drums and horns, the “Changlong” raises its head, twists its body and sways its tail to show the ferocity and power a dragon generates while it coming out of the sea. The performance manifests the unique island color and the rich country fl avor, serving as an important constituent of the evergreen folk customs and grand square entertainment in Donghai Island and Leizhou Peninsula. Whenever it is the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, the Mid-autume Festival or some other major joyous festivals, people in Dongshanxu Village are bound to dance to resemble a dragon for several consecutive nights. Every house along the street will also be festooned with lights while all family members are coming out to make a crowded and bustling scenery.

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According to the artists, “Renlongwu” (people dancing to resemble the dragon) originated at the end of the Ming Dynasty when the defeated army of the Ming Dynasty by the Qing Dynasty Army retreated to Leizhou Peninsula and Donghai Island. Coincidentally, it was the Mid-autumn Festival. In order to encourage the Ming Army, local people created this dance. Since then, “Renlongwu” spread in this area and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty when Emperor Qianlong took the throne. As a product of Donghai Island’s particular social, historical, regional and natural conditions, “Renlongwu” merged with such customs as Yulong (entertaining the dragon), Jinglong (offering sacrifices to the dragon ), Jihai (offering sacrifice to the sea), Jizu (offering sacrifice to the ancesters), Fengshen (enshrining the Gods), thus forming its own style. Longwu in Zhanjiang includes the characteristic performing procedures of “Qilong” (the prelude), “Longdiantou” (nodding), “Longchuanyun” (crossing the clouds) and “Longjuanlang” (rolling like the billow). The performers have to be skilled at supporting people to help them step on others’shoulders so that the formation will be changed smoothly and the movements can be finished at a dash. The dance is vigorous while you watch it from afar and powerful while you are closer. It has become an important part of the Chinese dragon culture.

As time changes, Zhanjiang Dragon Dance is gradually losing its old attraction and now is on the wane. It needs to be saved and sorted out in order to protect the folk cultural heritage.

Zhanjiang Dragon Dance was selected into the list of the fi rst batch of state-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006.