Historical origin of social fire in Qinghai

Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, one year near the Spring Festival, Chu Zhuangwang was unfortunately besieged by the enemy when he led the troops to fight. The enemy shouted that he would take Chu Zhuangwang's head to the kitchen for sacrifice. At that time, a courtier offered a plan to Chu Zhuangwang, saying that he could "enjoy a generous salary while alive, and seal the lamp officer of the temple sacrifice" as a big reward, and hired a shepherd with a similar appearance to Chu Zhuangwang as an opportunity to break through. Chu Zhuangwang followed the plan, so he escaped the disaster. Later, Chu Zhuangwang pacified the world and issued an imperial edict, ordering people all over the world to start a social fire in the first month of each year. The shepherd who saved him is also called the lamp officer, who is in charge of the social fire.

Shi Jing, a famous scholar and expert in folklore in our province, said: "Legend is legend after all. In fact, social fire evolved from "Hundred Drama" in ancient China culture, and finally became the main content of festival culture after a long history. In the Han Dynasty, with the arrival of a large number of Han immigrants, the fire of society was also brought to Qinghai. " During the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, more Han people entered Hehuang area. With the large-scale migration of the central government in the Ming Dynasty, there are more and more places where social fires are staged in Hehuang area, and the scale is getting bigger and bigger. The social fires in Hehuang, such as playing with lions and walking on stilts, are all manifestations of Chinese culture in Hehuang area.