Dongkeng “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Fest...

111.Dongkeng “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Festival

Nominating Unit: Dongkeng Town, City of Dongguan

The “Maishen (meaning ‘Selling Oneself for Employment’)” Festival in Dongkeng Town, Dongguan, dates back to Emperor Wanli’s Reign (1573—1620) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). As the transport hub between Dalang, Daling Mountain and Shilong, Dongkeng Town has been a busy place of ships and carts. According to the historical records, during the reign of Emperor Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, there was a rich landlord in Tangsha Village, Dongkeng. He put up a notice hiring skilled peasants, which attracted a lot of people. While there were too many people coming for the jobs, the other landlords also came for picking employees. As most of the contracts of employment were signed on Feb. 2nd of lunar calendar, people who wanted to sell their labors wore bamboo split hats and draped towels on back, gathered in front of the fences, waiting for “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment”. The landlords who needed to hire employees came and pick up the ones, invited them for a meal in restaurants as Dingshen (a pre-contract agreement). As time passed by, young and strong peasants from the surrounding areas came to Dongkeng looking for masters on the same day every year. This practice gradually evolved into a local custom, famous for its name Selling Oneself for Employment Festival.(https://www.daowen.com)

There are five main activities in Dongkeng “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Festival: First, the labour fair. On Feb. 2nd of the lunar calendar, labourers and employers gather in Dongkeng for labour deals, which has made it a unique labour fair. Second, the traditional business market. With the development of the labour fair, vendors from nearby townships also come for small business, selling bamboo crafts, iron tools and other tools as well as other daily necessities. In this way, the “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment”Festival gradually evolve into a market day for labour fair and traditional business market. Third, visiting relatives. Today, the custom of visiting relatives in the “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Festival is still practiced in the regions of Huiyang, Panyu, Boluo around Dongguan. Fourth, visiting and shopping. As the beliefs of “shopping for blessing” and “encountering gods” were formed in the process of the development of the “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Festival, local people like to go shopping on Feb. 2nd of the lunar calendar for good luck. Therefore, the sayings of “shopping and encountering gods” and “shopping for buying good luck” has been popular and passed down generation by generation. The last one, the water shooting carnival, which is the highlight of the festival. There’re more than 100 million people participating in the carnival each year. People also agree that shooting water on that day brings joy and good fortune.

As a comprehensive activity combining business and entertainment initiated in the oldest labour fair in South China, Dongkeng “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Festival is participated by a large number of people. Its series of activities and the unique folk beliefs and customs are precious living examples for the study of the local politics, economy, culture, religions and arts. However, with the social development and progress of the times, people are in the pursuit of increasingly diversified cultures and lives. The folk activities which in the traditional society play the role of social transferring, resources integrating and entertaining have also been badly impacted. Besides, during the Cultural Revolution period, many historical documents and artifacts were destroyed or lost. Therefore, it is urgent to take effective measures to protect and support Dongkeng “Selling-Oneself-for-Employment” Festival.