Sailongzhou
01 · Historical Records
Tongren lies in the middle of the Wuling Mountains; from there the Jin River flows down to Dongting Lake and into the Yangtze. In ancient times this was the only route out of the mountains from eastern Guizhou: 'boats went back and forth, and merchants gathered in crowds', hence its long-standing name of 'gateway to eastern Guizhou'. Within its borders the Miao, Tujia, Dong, Gelao, Manchu and other peoples live mixed together, and dragon boat racing here is both a ritual to pray for rain and a good harvest and a competition shared by all the ethnic groups. Every year between the fourth and fifth months, each village applies tung oil to the dragon boat that has lain idle for a year, paints dragon patterns on it, fits the dragon head, and launches it for practice; by the Dragon Boat Festival the boats gather beneath the Copper Rock at the confluence of the two rivers south of the city to await their races.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Dragon boat racing is a traditional recreational sport jointly taken part in by the many ethnic groups of Tongren. Tongren is a region where many ethnic groups live together, home to the Miao, Tujia, Dong, Gelao, Manchu and other ethnic minorities. Tongren rose to prosperity because of water; it lies in the middle of the Wuling Mountains, following the Jin River down to Dongting Lake and into the Yangtze. In ancient times this was the only route out of the mountains, where 'boats went back and forth, and merchants gathered in crowds'; it has long been known as the 'gateway to eastern Guizhou'. Since ancient times dragon boat racing, which symbolizes the spirit of unity and the will to compete, has been the most distinctive folk tradition of Tongren. Every year between the fourth and fifth months, as the weather warms, the villagers of each village apply tung oil to the dragon boat that has lain idle for a year, paint dragon patterns on it, fit the dragon head, and take it down to the water for practice. By the Dragon Boat Festival they gather early at the confluence of the two rivers south of the city — beneath the Copper Rock — to await the races. At that time the whole city of Tongren turns out in full force, and men and women of every ethnic group, old and young, gather on both banks of the Jin River to watch the dragon boat races. Wooden dragon boats one after another weave and vie for the lead on the Jin River, as the sounds of firecrackers, shouts and cheers rise in succession. On the water and on the banks the scene is extraordinarily lively. It presents a joyful picture in which this fervent land takes water as its medium, and people and water, and the ethnic peoples, blend together. Dragon boat racing in Tongren not only has a long history and a broad popular base; through a series of traditional customs — worshipping the dragon boat, dotting the dragon's eyes, launching the dragon boat, racing, snatching ducks and angling — it has also formed a dragon boat water culture of human harmony, auspiciousness and peace, jointly created by its many ethnic groups.
Sacrificing to and eye-dotting the dragon boat
The rites before launching: offerings to the boat and the dotting of the dragon's eyes, without which no boat may enter the water.
Snatching ducks and angling
The playful pastimes that follow the racing, ducks released for catching on the water and angling from the banks.
Racing where two rivers meet at Tongyan
The main course beneath Tongyan where the two rivers join, crowded every Dragon Boat Festival with wooden boats and cheering.
Oiling and painting the boat
The annual refurbishment of the stored boat: tung oil against damp, then dragon patterns and a fitted head.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Tongren dragon boats are organized in units of villages and neighbourhoods along both banks of the Jin River; each team provides its own wooden dragon boat, and before the races they must complete ceremonial procedures such as worshipping the dragon boat and dotting the dragon's eyes, while after the races there are entertainments such as snatching ducks and angling. Because the competitors belong to different ethnic groups, the gongs, drums and work songs at the races use the languages and melodies of each people, forming a tradition of aquatic competition jointly taken part in by many ethnic groups.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Sailongzhou · Sailongzhou · Sailongzhou.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Tongren dragon boat racing links the customs of worshipping the dragon boat, dotting the dragon's eyes, launching the dragon boat, racing, snatching ducks and angling into a single whole, making it the most popular Dragon Boat Festival activity in the area. When each race season arrives the whole city turns out in full force, and people of every ethnic group, old and young, gather along both banks of the Jin River, while gongs, drums and shouts rise in succession on the water and on the banks. The activity both carries forward the competitive spirit of unity and striving and promotes exchange and mutual recognition among the ethnic groups.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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