Rural immigration practice

Gu Xiang, Nanxiong, Guangdong Province, is an important transit point for Central Plains people to move southward, with a history of more than 2,000 years. Now only the "Spring Cow Dance" is left, and the other five animals-horses, sheep, pigs, chickens and dogs-are all extinct. In order to carry forward this traditional folk art and let more descendants of Zhu Ji know, be familiar with and support the inheritance and development of Gu Xiang folk art, Liaowu people in Gu Xiang decided to jump the spring bull to attend the China Surname Culture Festival held in Sanshui Lotus World during the Spring Festival. This is the first time that "Spring Cattle Dance" has gone out of Gu Xiang and entered the Pearl River Delta.

Guxiang's "Six Livestock Dance" has a history of more than two thousand years.

According to Liao Dayuan, a descendant of the "Spring Bull Dance" who has danced for more than 30 years and is in his fifties this year, when Vietnamese first came to Lingnan, the natural environment was harsh, the farming conditions were not good, and it was difficult to survive. Every spring, a prayer ceremony is held to pray for good weather, good crops, prosperity of six animals and safety of all ages in the new year. In the traditional concept of China people, "Six Livestock Flourishing" represents the prosperity, auspiciousness and beauty of family members, and has gradually formed the "Six Livestock Dance". Every spring festival in Gu Xiang, people dance "Six Livestock Dance", which has been passed down from generation to generation and evolved into an important activity in the Spring Festival and spring. Spring Festival is just before beginning of spring, and it is the time for villagers to plow in spring, so "Six Livestock Dance" is also the most famous "Dance of Spring Cattle".

"Six Livestock Dance" prays for the prosperity of six livestock and the bumper harvest of grains.

Liao Dayuan said that for more than 2,000 years, every Spring Festival in six villages in Guxiang, there is an animal that dances with six animals, such as the dancing spring cow in Liaowu, the dancing phoenix (chicken) in Luwu, the dancing pig in Liu Wu and the dancing dog in Xu Wu. Every household posted "Six Livestock Flourishing" and "A Full House of Pigs and Sheep" on the doors of cowshed and pigsty, and posted Spring Festival couplets "Six Livestock Flourishing, Thousands of Livestock Enjoying Life, Plenty of Grains and Renewal of Everything" at their doorsteps.

Master Liao also said that "dancing spring cattle" is also called "making spring ploughing". On the one hand, he prayed for good weather, good harvest in agriculture and adequate food and clothing, on the other hand, he thanked the cattle for their hard work. The villagers also used the "Spring Cattle Dance" to exchange their annual harvest, production technology and agricultural knowledge.

Dancing Spring Cattle has been innovated for more than two thousand years.

Master Liao and several other old artists took reporters to the ancestral home where spring cattle were stored in the village. Master Liao held out two cow heads and two plows as props, but the cow body was not seen. Master Liao said that after the end of spring dance every year, the cattle were seriously damaged and had to be re-tied every year.

The reporter saw that the bull's head is one big and one small, not black like ordinary bull's head, but colorful, with curved corners, big eyes and very vivid. "In the past, there was only one cow, but now there are two, meaning one big and one small, one male and one female; The cow's head used to be like a real cow, but now it has become colorful, more ornamental and artistic. " Master Liao said that the whole spring cattle routine lasted for 45 minutes, with three people as a group, one jumping on the head, one jumping on the body and one helping to plow the field. Because of the long performance time, complicated routines and numerous movements, it is very hard to dance with horse stance and squat step.

Master Liao called several team members and performed the routine of jumping spring cattle simply. Touch the spring cow while singing, and touch the cow's tail from its head. Every time I touch it, I have lyrics, and I can also do actions such as riding cattle, driving cattle, plowing and harrowing fields, and plowing fields. The action should be very realistic. During the performance, folk artists and the audience cheered in unison and amused each other. Coupled with the smooth and cheerful tunes, the harmonious and unrestrained gongs and drums dance "Spring Cattle Tune" has a strong and harmonious atmosphere and is full of farmers' unique joy and interest.

I hope that the Southern Pearl River Delta can reproduce the "six animals dancing together"

Master Liao said that after the reform and opening up, profound changes have taken place in the countryside, and the farming society is slowly moving towards an industrialized and urbanized society. More and more young people in Guxiang wash their feet to work in the Pearl River Delta and leave the countryside. There are fewer and fewer people engaged in agricultural production, and the rural population is slowly decreasing. Coupled with the lack of market efficiency and vitality of folk art, not many young people are willing to learn. Like many rural folk arts in China, "Six Livestock Dance" is slowly declining. Guxiang has a long history and is famous for its "Six Livestock Dance". Now there is only "Spring Cattle Dance". Other props of the "Five Livestock Dance" have deteriorated, and the players are over 50 years old.

Zhu, curator of Nanxiong Museum, said: "Six Livestock Dance" is simple in content, sincere in feelings and full of local flavor. It not only conveys people's good wishes for good weather and good harvests, but also educates people to care for cattle and other poultry and be diligent in breeding. At the same time, it also has the function of spreading knowledge and education, as well as the research function of folk customs and folk art.

Guxiang is the ancestral home of people in the Pearl River Delta. The southward migration of Guxiang people has brought advanced production technology and excellent culture in the Central Plains and Jiangnan, and made great contributions to the economic and cultural development of Lingnan. At present, there are 14 1 Zhuji immigrants in 29 cities and counties in the Pearl River Delta.

According to Master Liao, during the Spring Festival, the Chinese Surname Culture Research Association held a Chinese Surname Culture Festival in Sanshui Lotus World. He discussed with the old artists in the village and decided to go to the surname culture festival. This is the first time that Dance of Spring Cattle has gone out of Gu Xiang and entered the Pearl River Delta. It is hoped that this trip will enable more people in the Pearl River Delta to know more about Gu Xiang's history, culture and Quyi, and give support to Gu Xiang Quyi in all aspects to see if it can reproduce the glory of the "Six Livestock Dance" in that year and make Gu Xiang Quyi blossom and bear fruit in the Pearl River Delta.