Denggan
01 · Historical Records
It took shape during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty and has been passed down for nearly 300 years. The association began during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty, and the lineage of transmission, as far as can be documented, runs for seven generations.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Daliufen Village pole-climbing (denggan) is a communal folk traditional sport and acrobatic performance tradition passed down in Jinghai District, Tianjin. According to popular legend, in a year of severe drought when the people had nothing to live on, the Little White Dragon went up to heaven to pray for rain on their behalf; after it died, its bones fell to the ground and turned into the "dragon pole." The villagers created the pole-climbing technique by imitating the Little White Dragon's ascent to heaven. The core prop of Daliufen Village pole-climbing is the dragon pole; in performance, the dragon pole, the pole block, the iron hoop, and the iron core pin together constitute the performance space. The dragon pole used by the pole-climbing association is made of bamboo, 14 centimeters in diameter and 6.8 meters high; at its base is a wooden pole block that fixes the pole in place. Twelve thick ropes are attached to the lower part of the dragon pole; they are wrapped around the waists of twelve people so that together they can exert force to hold the pole steady. At the top of the dragon pole is a small iron hoop called the "pole hoop"; below the pole hoop is a horizontal iron bar 1.4 meters long, known as the ganxin (pole bar). During the performance, the performers, in matching costumes, climb barefoot with hands and feet together to the accompaniment of gongs and drums, striking different poses and formations on the pole hoop, the ganxin, and the various parts of the dragon pole. A single overall director below the pole is responsible for coordinating and arranging the performers' movements. The performers each have their own special skills for going up and down the pole, and the performance features group formations of one, two, or three to ten people. Among them, the shooting-star trick at the top of the pole is the most breathtaking; more than seventy movements, such as Pedaling Duck, Donkey Roll, and Shedding the Immortal's Robe, each have their own attraction. No protective equipment is used in Daliufen Village pole-climbing; once the dragon pole is raised, it is held up purely by human strength, making the performance thrilling, extraordinary, and far-reaching in meaning. Its activities follow strict codes of conduct; before each performance there are ritual ceremonies of worshiping the Medicine King and praying for safety, and there are customs and rules forbidding women from taking part. The performance emphasizes teamwork and mutual care, which is of positive significance for promoting the spirit of collectivism, building a "beautiful new countryside," and strengthening village cohesion.
The dragon pole
The core prop is a bamboo pole fourteen centimetres thick and 6.8 metres tall, socketed into a wooden base.
Base ropes and the twelve bearers
Twelve thick ropes lashed to twelve men's waists hold the pole upright with no other safety device.
The ring and the crossbar
A small iron ring crowns the pole with a 1.4-metre crossbar beneath it, the points on which performers take their poses.
Meteor play at the top
The most perilous item, performed at the very top of the pole alongside such celebrated routines as duck-kicking and immortal doffing his robe.
More than seventy routines
Historically 108 codified actions, of which nearly seventy per cent have been recovered, each with its own point of interest.
The white dragon and the pole's origin
Legend tells that a white dragon died seeking rain and its joints fell as the dragon pole, whose climbing moves imitate its ascent.
Rites and customary rules
The event follows strict rules: the god of medicine is worshipped for safety beforehand, and custom bars women from taking part.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Daliufen Village pole-climbing is passed down in the area of Daliufen Village, Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin. It took shape during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty and has been transmitted for nearly 300 years, with a documented lineage of seven generations; the Daliufen Village Committee of Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin serves as the protecting unit, and the Daliufen Village Pole-Climbing Sacred Association undertakes the transmission and protection of the project. The core prop, the dragon pole, is made of bamboo, 14 centimeters in diameter and 6.8 meters high, fixed at the base by a wooden pole block, with twelve thick ropes attached to its lower part that are wrapped around the waists of twelve people so that together they can exert force to hold the pole steady; at the top of the dragon pole is a small iron hoop called the "pole hoop," and below the pole hoop is a 1.4-meter-long horizontal iron bar known as the ganxin (pole bar). During performances, the performers, in matching costumes, climb barefoot with hands and feet together to the accompaniment of gongs and drums; a single overall director below the pole handles coordination and arrangement, while the performers above strike formations in groups of one, two, or three to ten people.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Historically there were 108 codified movements, of which nearly 70 percent have now been restored. Daliufen Village pole-climbing is transmitted mainly as a communal tradition, and the Daliufen Village Pole-Climbing Sacred Association has undertaken the transmission and protection of the project. Its senior members teach the pole technique to the younger generation through oral transmission and physical demonstration, and have worked hard to recover lost movements, successfully training a number of inheritors. Daliufen Village pole-climbing has a long history, intricate codified movements, strong appeal as a spectacle, and broad popular participation, giving it considerable historical, social, and cultural value.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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