Shiqiao ancient town culture

Nine lotus lanterns evolved from ancient sacrificial activities such as "exorcising the town gods", and were matched with "lion lanterns", "waist drums" and "Upright" to form a large-scale mass performance team. According to legend, before liberation, every year on the third day of the third lunar month, butchers in the town (that is, people often say that they kill pigs) would hang up the "Nine Lotus Lantern" on this day in order to drive away disasters. The so-called lamp is specially made by folk craftsmen and looks like a lotus flower. The specific method is to wrap a small pot (stone bridge is called "Babi lamp") that can hold oil with iron sheet, weld a small hook like a fishhook on the back of the pot for hanging into the human body, and the front of the lamp extends a small mouth about one inch long for inserting a wick for ignition.

Before the sacrificial ceremony, nine strong butchers had to wash themselves (bathe) to keep their bodies clean, and then bare their upper bodies. The elders who take the lead hang nine special "lotus lanterns" on everyone's chest, upper abdomen, back, arms and forehead. When hanging, the elders hold a layer of skin outside the upper body of the person hanging the lamp with their left hand, and directly pierce the small hook on the back of the "Lotus Lantern" into the human body with their right hand and hang it on this layer of skin. Ingeniously, the hanged person did not feel any pain without taking any anesthetic measures. After hanging the lamp, the hands of the person hanging the lamp must be straight, so that two Long Touzhang are inserted at the waist; Then wrap a green yarn (silk handkerchief) on the forehead of the person who hangs the lamp, put on a pair of sunglasses, and wrap a green yarn around his waist to prevent his vitality from leaking out, and he must wear sandals on his feet; Finally, each lamp is loaded with one or two pounds of vegetable oil, and the whole preparation activity is completed. The sacrificial activities began. Ninety-eight "lotus lanterns" were lit at the same time, and the parade with "nine lotus lanterns" as the main performance marched in the middle of the road, accompanied by performances such as lion lanterns, dragon lanterns, teasing girls, black bean sauce, sedan chairs and floats. The scene is spectacular. Colorful touring teams symbolizing auspiciousness and happiness are marching in the streets and alleys of Shiqiao ancient town, and the audience is like a tide. The whole performance will last for about one day.

Ancient town architecture

Shiqiao building is a typical immigrant ancient town. Shiqiao ancient town was the most glorious period during the Anti-Japanese War. It was once a famous financial and commercial center and land and water wharf in central Sichuan, and was known as one of the "four ancient towns in Sichuan". At that time, thirteen national banks set up branches here, and there were more than 100 tea shops with six halls and nine docks in the town, which was also the seat of Jianyang county yamen in the past. It can be seen that the prosperity of that year. Nowadays, many places have been replaced by modern buildings, leaving only three old streets full of vicissitudes in the ancient town. Many ancient buildings are in disrepair, crumbling and facing collapse. (Pictured: Shaanxi Guild Hall, also called Guandi Temple, is located in Shaanxi Street. In the heyday of stonebridge, there were six halls. At present, only Shaanxi Hall stands tall and shabby among weeds, but the main body is still intact, and the eaves are hanging, and the momentum is not diminished. This guild hall belongs to Chengdu Military Region. Although it is empty, it is very lucky to survive. Now it is completely closed, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter. )