Xiayang traditional folklore to welcome Mazu

? The National Famous Overseas Chinese Township Yongding Xiayang Township welcomes the Heavenly Mother's parade throughout the country, and the Xiayang Lantern Festival to welcome the lanterns are the two most important folklore activities.

The triennial folklore of welcoming Mazu first began in Zhongchuan Village, and now extends to the whole town of Xiayang. There is no way to tell when the first Mazu was first welcomed in Zhongchuan Village, but its origin in Zhongchuan is probably related to the fact that Zhongchuan had the earliest overseas Chinese who went to the South Seas to seek the blessing of Mazu and the construction of the Tin Hau Palace.

The history of the overseas Chinese in Zhongchuan can be traced back to around 1600, about 400 years ago, when the 10th brothers, Hu Zhaoxue and Hu Yingxue, traveled across the sea to Sarawak to work on iron. According to the "Zhongchuan Historical Records", the eighth ancestor of Zhongchuan Xiangxian Gong in Tangzige dedication to build boats to ferry pedestrians, and build the Tin Hau Palace, when about the seventeenth year of the Kangxi Emperor (1678), 335 years ago.

Originally built on the left side of the Xijue Temple, the Qing Daoguang period was rebuilt on the half-wall of Qishan. Tianhou Palace leaning over the foot of the tree-covered Flag Hill, under the rippling blue waves of the Jiao Tan, by the water, the field of vision is quiet and happy, swimming in the eyes, the scenery is beautiful. It has experienced several times to repair and expand. Traveling horse tin mining king Hu Yijing "rebuild Tianhou Gong record", traveling star poet Hu Langman "Tianhou Gong restoration monument" stone carving stood in the side of the Ying Sheng Pavilion, and built according to the mountain and the "Fang Fang Monument". Tianhou Palace is like a seal, engraved with the four characters of "Hongren" and "Puji" in red seal script, which is the title of Mazu.

Mazu the magical woman, in the Northern Song Jianlong first year (960 years) on the 23rd day of the third month of the lunar calendar, was born in Putian City, Fujian Province, Meizhou Island, because of the birth to Mass are not crying, so they took the name of Lin Mo, nicknamed Murniang. Song Taizong Yongxi four years (987 years) on the ninth day of the ninth month of the hurricane broke the mast, fell down on the unfortunate death, at the age of 27. Murniang since childhood intelligent, eight years old enlightenment, recite, know the meaning of literature, then the Fujian inspector's father Lin wish to its love. When she grew up, she was well versed in astronomy, water and medicine, and she was determined not to get married, but was compassionate and dedicated to doing good for the world. Mazu life galloped the sea, save the emergency and help the crisis, there is a request must be answered, there are difficulties must be rescued, by the people love and respect. After her ascension, she was honored as the "Goddess of the Sea" by the coastal people, who set up temples to worship her and showed her spirit time and again. Since Song Gaozong 26 years (1156 years) to seal A-Ma Zu as "Lady Ling Hui", Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing before and after the A-Ma Zu commendation 36 times, the title from the "Lady", "Consort", "Heavenly Princess", "Lady of the Sea", "Lady of the Sea", "Lady of the Sea", "Lady of the Sea", "Lady of the Sea" and "Lady of the Sea". A-Ma was honored 36 times in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, with titles ranging from "Lady," "Concubine," "Heavenly Concubine," "Heavenly Empress," and "Heavenly Mother. Today, Mazu's belief in the pursuit of "truth, goodness and beauty" extends to both home and abroad.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the Hakka people of Yongding traveled to Southeast Asia in search of development, and at first, when their relatives saw them off, they would tell them to eat water ducks, which signified a safe and smooth journey. In order to ensure the safety of their loved ones, A-Ma, the patron saint of seafaring, which is widely worshipped along the coast, gradually became a deity worshipped by the people in the Hakka mountainous areas, and the Tianhou Palace in Xiayang Tangzige became the most prestigious A-Ma temple in Jinfeng.

The first A-Ma Temple since liberation was held in 1996, the second in 2000 (because the A-Ma Temple was destroyed by the flood of August 8, 1996, and was restored in 1999 under the leadership of Hu Guofang), and the third in 2003, and all three A-Ma events were held with Hu Guofang as the prime minister. April 13, 2012 (March 23, according to the Lunar Calendar) is the 1,052nd anniversary of the birth of A-Ma. The A-Mazu Welcome Event in Xiayang Township The A-Ma Zu welcome event in Xiayang Township was one of the most spectacular parades around the border. 6:30 a.m. on the morning of the 13th, the welcome team gathered in front of Tangzige Tianhougong (Heavenly Queen's Palace). At 7:00 a.m., the A-Ma statue departure ceremony was held in the main hall of Zhongchuan Tangzi Pavilion Tianhou Palace, with a highly respected master of ceremonies from Xiayang reciting prayers, a solemn atmosphere, and solemn ceremonies. When the A-Ma statue departed, there were drums and gongs and firecrackers, and the sound of cannons shook the heavens. "The Mazu statue is a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese people, a symbol of the world, and a symbol of the world's greatness. The Mazu statue is a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, a symbol of the world's greatness, and a symbol of the world's greatness.

The front of the parade team meandered for miles, vast and magnificent. The team first went to the village of Xiaping to receive the supply field, Mazu sedan chair and "heavenly mother Yuanjun" plate sedan chair, a small one for the altar, Mazu kind eyes, peaceful, accept the villagers' worship, incense burning and worship. About 9 o'clock, Mazu parade team came to say that all the bridge next to the "under the WeiXiangHe road to receive the supply field", supply platform arranged brilliantly, the couplet said: "give ten thousand people blessing forever, through the four seas of wealth PuDu". At this time on the bridge on the road, crowded with people, crowded with water. Some villagers set up tables in front of their homes, lighted incense to meet Mazu, firecrackers, drums, take pictures, video tiptoe head, with the rhythmic rhythm of the drums and gongs inside the ups and downs, exciting. A dozen or so members of the cannon team wearing straw hats, quickly ran to the hospital next to the creek to light the "three companies", the air came deafening bang - bang - bang! --The air was filled with deafening bang-bang-bang-bang. Offerings place in front of a sliver of eight immortal table row to go, the table on the case for the god of chicken, duck, pork and mutton and all kinds of fruits and pastries, cigarettes fluttering, candles flashing, paper money hoo-hoo, the faithful hands twisting incense, stooping to worship, the mouth recited the words. In the master of ceremonies chanting, wearing a black felt hat, clad in red bandages, the officiating priests, kneeling sacrifice, the villagers from the sacrifice, smoke.

Sacrifice, welcome the God team to the new Wei supply field. The front of the welcome team is responsible for driving away evil spirits of the mighty Singijeon, followed by Prime Minister Hu Yusheng, Hu Shi Nan, Hu Yufen, Hu Yanghong, Hu Guojiao led by the members of the Preparatory Committee, followed by holding up the "avoidance," "silence" and "heavenly mother," "silence," "the mother of God," "the mother of God. "Heavenly Mother" "Royal Decree Hao Tian Wu Ji Protecting the Country and Blessing the People" plaques, holding the dragon head, writing brush of the ceremonial team, and then carrying large incense candles of the nine carrying incense team, followed in turn by the magnificent drums and gongs team, dressed in red pants and red scarf, turning a large umbrella of the gods Sedan chair team, colorful flag team, gongs and drums team, eight sound team, lion dance team, dragon dance team, waist drum team, blowing the horn team, colorful caravan, nuns team, garland team ...... fish through, the whole welcome God team has a few thousand people.

Among the particularly striking sights are: color caravan or stands in the Chuan Pai Lou, Tiger Leopard Tower, Tiger Leopard Villa, set Qing Lou model, or spread three such as flying dragons, or high sitting in the children dressed up as the Eight Immortals, decorated with flowers, colorful and charming, the children with colorful crowns, shaking the fan and blowing cock, the demeanor of the gods, it seems to be like the sky fairy. Sedan chair is dressed as Yang Zongbao Mu Guiying, there are dressed as a monkey monkey haunted the Palace of Heaven, as well as the Yangmen female generals, etc., previously carried by four people, now changed to use a cart to carry, up to five or six meters. Eight Immortals team gods and goddesses holding love, dressed in classical, immortal style, eye-catching. Invited Pinghe County Nansheng Women's Pipe Band, white shorts, red cap cape, team neatly, marching drums, rhythmic, well-trained, a look at it is not the Hakka rustic style, let a person be moved by. Qiling Longhu drum team and the three groups under the ocean drum team dance beautifully, showing the style of women. Zhongchuan Men's Drum and Drum Team and Fushi Women's Drum and Drum Team, clanging with rhythmic instruments, strong and exciting, it is difficult to distinguish between them. The dragon dance team has two fire dragons and golden dragons flying up and down, moving and interspersing, circling and modeling, which dazzles and amazes people. Welcoming the God team in an endless stream, wherever the firecrackers cracking, fire splashes, smoke, deafening, children covering the ears of the infatuation, young people laughing and taking pictures, the old man cited the neck to watch ......

The entire route to welcome the God in accordance with the Tangzi Pavilion → the village of Ping for the altar → under the Weixianghe Road for the altar → the new street for the altar → along the River South Road → the middle of the bridge → along the River North Road → Hengjie → Old Street Caojia altar → Qiaoxing Avenue → Overseas Chinese New Street → Farmers' Market → Hot Spring Road → Xianghe Road → Anding Road altar → Huixiang Pavilion → Provincial Highway 203 → Fuchuan Village altar → Zhongchuan Stone Pai Lou → Hehaofang → ShuiKouBa → South Slice → Hu's Family Temple → Zhongchuan Elementary School → Zhongchuan XingGong.

Wherever the divine driving drums and gongs, pipe music, Singijeon guns; altar in front of the palace incense, offerings, tens of thousands of people gathered to see the four villages and eight neighbors, 10,000 people empty streets, an unprecedented scene. From the plaque held up to know the main teams involved in: Zhongchuan Village, Mingqing, Anding Road, the lower Wei Xianghe Road, Jili, Xiaping Village, Juechuan Village, Fuchuan Village, Fukeng piece (including the rich stone under the Tongkoli, on the BaoKeng, HaoShiKe, 磜 head, QingKeng, BaoHu), HaoShiLi piece, the lower YangXinJie, and so on.

Around 12:00 noon, the vast procession of welcoming A-Ma arrived at Zhongchuan Xinggong (the big lawn next to Haw Par Villa), which was the climax of the whole event. On Tiger Balm Boulevard, balloons were flying, colorful flags were flying, people were weaving, and vehicles were like water. Zhongchuan Palace lights flashing, ribbons across, rendering a strong festive atmosphere, the red banner on the gold lettering "Heavenly Mother of God Zhongchuan Palace", the two sides of the couplet said: "Mother of God to reward the pious, A-Ma blessing of goodness." In front of the Palace, the incense case is like a forest, offerings like a mountain, worship piety, the scene is spectacular, Longyan TV and other media to follow the shooting report. The opposite side of the Palace to build a large theater, public performances of Chinese opera for three days and three nights, the main plays are "playing the Eight Immortals", "Worship Hall of Flowers", "Confucian outreach" and other plays. At night, all the ceremonial fireworks, the stage sheng song melodious, watching the Han opera people dense, the whole village immersed in the village of Zhongchuan, "fire trees and silver flowers all night long, joyful over the celebration" of the holiday joy.

Three days later, Juechuan Village welcomed A-Ma's palanquin to the village for all the villagers to worship, fully expressing the piety and love of the overseas Chinese people for A-Ma. This was the final part of the celebration of welcoming A-Ma's tour to Xiayang. Finally, the Mazu palanquin was respectfully returned to Zhongchuan Tangzige Tianhougong, and the triennial celebration of welcoming A-Mazu was a complete success.