*High Landscape in Hetian Town

*High Landscape in Hetian Town

Nominating Unit: Luhe County, City of Shanwei

High Landscape in Hetian Town commonly referred to as “Hetian supporting landscape”, “landscape on parade” and “Jikang Temple landscape”, originating from local Guangfu Temple fair, is now mainly distributed in the area of Hetianwei in Hetian town, Luhe County.

High Landscape in Hetian Town is usually composed of three parts, namely landscape bed, landscape stalk and scenery. The biggest feature of its design is that a female character hangs in the air 7 to 8 meters high, far above the ridge of the roof of ancient dwellings while the highness indicates danger. Besides, organic units of high landscape are combined cleverly in a unique and exquisite way. Props like people, animals and scenery constitute true view bridge, making landscape more ingenious. Due to its high aesthetic value. In June 2004, Hetian town, a major legacy place of High Landscape in Hetian Town, was awarded “Home of Ethnic Folk Art in Guangdong Province”. High Landscape in Hetian Town was selected into the list of the second batch of state-level intangible cultural heritage in 2008.(https://www.daowen.com)

High Landscape in Hetian Town parade takes place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the afternoons of 19th day and 20th day of the first lunar month. Before the parade, high landscapes made by every village should meet to receive comments from people. It has fixed numbers of landscape frames, parade routes and“Shenggao” ceremony. Every the landscape frame is equipped with, apart from the landscape boys and girls, 4 to 8 people carrying the landscape, 6 to 8 people directing the landscape, 3 to 4 people protecting landscape and 1 to 2 people overseeing the landscape. The high landscape is followed by lion team, band and fl ag guard, forming a huge, orderly parade team singing and dancing.

High Landscape in Hetian Town, via established routes like Xiajie, Yanjie, Hengjie and Dajie, finally reaches Guangfu Temple to pay tribute to God. After a concise performance, all “Jingtous” meet at the temple altar to fling “Shenggao”, a sacred wood before the deity to decide on times, “Fushou” and “Jingtou”of the next year, which signifies the end of this year’s “landscape parade”. Fushou usually consists of more than ten people, among which 3 to 4 persons in charge called “Jingtou” are selected to arrange the task. Fushou is mainly responsible for fund raising, setting arrangement, rehearsal organization, character selection, landscape parade and safety.

High Landscape in Hetian Town parade, integrating Hakka folk lion dance, kylin dance as well as percussion music, solemn, vigorous and cheerful, displays unique Hakka culture and important value of research on folklore, religion and culture. However, due to the shock of some objective and multicultural reasons, High Landscape in Hetian Town is short of successors, and if not salvaged, it may perish anytime. Therefore, it demands nurturing and support.