What are the unique folk customs and arts of Beilun?

Beilun is located on the coast of the East China Sea. The ancestors made a living by farming, woodworking, fishing and salt, and lived in thatched huts and stone houses. The traditional customs are closely related to the Hemudu culture, and some customs of the Neolithic Age remain. remains. With the development of society and the improvement of production levels, primitive customs gradually changed and evolved. Since the Northern Song Dynasty, people from the Central Plains have immigrated to the south in large numbers to avoid war. After the Southern Song Dynasty established its capital in Hangzhou, the etiquette and customs of the Central Plains were further integrated into the local area. This makes most of Beilun's customs consistent with those of other parts of the province. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beilun's territory expanded (the land bank moved outward), its population increased, and many customs were basically finalized and formed into traditions. Therefore, Beilun's traditional customs are the product of the material culture and production activities of the ancient Chinese people, and are part of the combination of ancient Yue culture and Central Plains culture. Through "Beilun Customs", we can speculate and understand the history of Beilun, the cultural inheritance of Beilun, and the Beilun people's struggle with nature and resistance to foreign aggression. Collecting and organizing "Beilun Customs" is undoubtedly of positive significance for promoting national culture and discovering Beilun's cultural heritage.

The people of Beilun have always been known for their diligence, bravery, frugality and honesty. Many customs reflect people's simple wishes and most basic survival requirements under certain historical conditions to pray for a good harvest and peace, and yearn for peace and joy. However, due to the limitations of the times, there will be good and bad customs in traditional customs. For example, the "Fire Dragon" is used to kill overwintering pests and diseases; the Dragon Boat Festival was a festival in ancient history to ward off evil spirits and ward off disasters, and was later generally extended to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan; today, there is a Empress Palace in the lower mountains of Xinqi Street, which is dedicated to the God of the Sea and the Queen of Heaven. Fujian people call it "Mazu", which is originally a mythological story with positive significance, etc., and can all be classified as good customs.

However, due to the feudal rule of the past dynasties, many unscientific, even ugly and reactionary customs have also been formed. For example, the feudal patriarchal system, the feudal ethics of men being superior to women, the three obediences and the four virtues, shabby marriages such as wife pawns, and various sacrificial activities have formed the intersection of folk beliefs and religions, and the confusion of feudal ethics and traditional morality. These should be criticized and criticized. Abandon, abandon.

In order to enable the healthy and beneficial development of traditional customs and to reflect the history and culture of Beilun, relevant comrades from the Beilun District Local Chronicles Office conducted interviews, research, and accumulation for a long time, and consulted relevant historical materials and records. He wrote and compiled "Beilun Customs". Its time limit is roughly locked in the period from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. Today's elderly people may have an immersive intimacy with this part of the content; in addition to its content being obviously contrary to society, it may be misleading to today's people. Except for critical exclusions, they are generally recorded truthfully to reflect the true history of this period. Therefore, we should look at it from the perspective of historical materialism, be guided by the important thought of "Three Represents", carry forward the spirit of changing customs, critically carry forward and inherit excellent regional cultural heritage, and make contributions to the construction of socialist spiritual civilization. contribute.