Zhang Yuanxun Temple Fair

116.Zhang Yuanxun Temple Fair

Nominating Unit: Yu’nan County, City of Yunfu

Since the construction of Zhang Yuanxun Temple in Liantan was completed, Zhang Yuanxun Temple Fair has become a regional non-governmental activity. With a history of over 400 years, the temple was erected in honor of a famous anti-Japanese Captain commander Zhang Yuanxun in the Ming Dynasty. According to the Annals of Former Xining County in the Qing Dynasty, the temple was erected in 1578 in the Ming Dynasty. A variety of legends about Zhang Yuanxun spread from mouth to mouth, which make people believe that they live and work in peace and contentment because of Zhang Yuanxun’s blessings.

Zhang Yuanxun Temple Fair is usually held from lunar January 15th to 20th (the time for the celebration of the construction of the temple) or on lunar August 6th (the time for Autumn Rites). From lunar January 15th to 20th, there are such activities as worshipping at the shrine, celebrating the construction of the temple with eight tunes, worshipping and congratulating with the lion dance, marching, donating, drawing divination sticks, practicing abstinence from meat, climbing the sword mountain, singing folk songs, acting, and playing firecrackers.

Every lunar January 15th, the local people will perform a ceremony to pay for the land tax for Zhang Yuanxun’s troops and horses. An elderly man of high ability and integrity with three generations living under the same roof will bathe the statue of Zhang Yuanxun and put on new clothes for him. After this, people will burn the joss sticks and start worshipping him. Besides, the local people put on different kinds of performances, which add a hint of glamour to the temple fair.(https://www.daowen.com)

From lunar August 6th to September 19th, the activities are mainly ‘showing gratitude to the God’ and ‘Zhang Yuanxun cruise’, which are hosted by the local Taoist priests, the bishop and the elderly people in the village. Larger activities usually last 7 days and 7 nights, while smaller activities last 3 days and 3 nights, with a purpose of pacifying and releasing the souls of the deceased people from suffering so as to safeguard the local people’s safety. As the most important activity, Zhang Yuanxun cruise is started to show that he is performing his duty. According to the local custom, a small cruise is started every 5 years, and a grand cruise every 10 years. There are more than 200 people participating in the cruise. People carry an official sedan in which the statue of Zhang Yuanxun is put and go on a cruise. All the participants are dressed in ancient Chinese clothes, including civil servants, military officers, and soldiers, among whom the military and civilian officials ride a horse and are armed with a sword, the soldiers hold different kinds of weapons and flags such as banners, burgees, crescent-shaped flags, and flags with the picture of green dragon on them, which look like an army going out to a battle. According to the Annals of Former Xining County in the Qing Dynasty, “Wherever they go, they erect a tent, kill pigs and sheep, light up lights, display paintings and calligraphies, and play different kinds of instruments. There are tens of people who pretend to be the God, who are selected from the villagers by the people on duty. Later on, different kinds of ancient Chinese costumes are distributed to them. Some ride a horse, some perform the dragon or lion dance, others act and tell a story, with drums played.”

Zhang Yuanxun Temple Fair is a non-governmental cultural custom which is highly characteristic of folk beliefs. With its fixed time and steady forms of activities, it has a huge and profound influence in the Nanjiang River valley. With the Zhang Yuanxun Temple as its carrier, the Fair reflects the unique traditional beliefs and customs in this area. The rich and varied performing arts are of great value to the study of the social and cultural life as well as folk art of the west of Guangdong Province.

Recently, the traditional Zhang Yuanxun Temple Fair is being continuously simplified under the great impact of the exotic culture. In addition, the youths have lost their interest in traditional folk customs, which results in the extinction of it. Therefore, measures should be taken to rescue and protect it.