Throwing hydrangea

Guangxi
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Throwing embroidered balls is a traditional sport that the Zhuang people love. Its history can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. At that time, the bronze-cast ancient weapon "flying ball" was used for throwing, and it was mostly used in combat and hunting. With the progress of society and the improvement of material life, flying balls have gradually developed into the embroidered cloth bags we have today, namely embroidered balls. Embroidered balls are handmade by girls, and the most common shape is round, but there are also oval, square, diamond, etc. The embroidered balls are as big as fists, filled with cotton seeds, millet, husks, etc., with ribbons and red pendants tied at the upper and lower ends. People throw and catch each other after tea and dinner to entertain themselves and play a role in communicating their feelings. With the development of history, it gradually evolved into a way for young men and women of the Zhuang nationality to express their love. Throwing embroidered balls is a traditional sports activity carried out by the Zhuang people in Guangxi at the Song Fair. Every year during traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, March 3, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Zhuang people hold Song Fairs. In the singing fair, young men and women invite each other to gather at the edge of the field or the riverside. They are divided into two groups, male and female, and keep a proper distance. They sing to each other, using their voices to express greetings and enhance understanding. The lyrics cover a wide range of content, including ideals, sentiments, farming, etc. The songs are question-and-answer, and the voices rise and fall one after another, which is very pleasant to listen to. The girls can't help but pick up the delicate hydrangeas in their hands and throw them to their lovers. The boys are quick and catch the hydrangeas accurately. After appreciating them, they throw them back to the girls. After several rounds of throwing and catching, if the boy likes a girl, he will tie his own small gift (such as silver jewelry or a purse) on the hydrangeas and throw it back to the girl. The heavier the gift, the deeper the boy's love for the girl. When the girl catches the boy's gift, if she accepts it, it means that she accepts the boy's pursuit. At this time, the two of them may continue to sing to express their love, or meet in a secluded place. Another folk form of throwing embroidered balls is that men and women are divided into two teams, A and B. Team A selects two singers to throw embroidered balls to Team B and sing a Zhuang song. After receiving the embroidered balls, Team B sends two singers to return the ball to Team A in the shortest time and sing a song in return, and so on. The singers who participate in "sending balls" and "returning balls" are generally folk song masters who can compose poems in seven steps. Another form is to set up a wooden pole about 10 meters high on the field, with a wooden board with a round hole in the middle nailed to the top of the pole. Men and women stand on both sides and throw the ball into the round hole. The one who passes through the hole wins. Throwing embroidered balls, as a traditional sports activity of the Zhuang people, has a broad mass base in Guangxi. It has certain social, national, practical and interesting characteristics, which invisibly enhances the attractiveness of this project. The beautiful embroidered balls and the happy singing make people feel that action is worse than action. The technique of throwing a ball is simple and easy to master. It can promote friendship among people and convey feelings and spirits through the ball. The secret is indescribable. Only by joining this activity can you experience its charm. Throwing a ball not only has the function of social entertainment, but also can exercise people's physical strength and will, improve people's agility and physical fitness, and cultivate noble qualities and sentiments such as decisiveness, perseverance, self-confidence and positivity.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

China tourist attractions related to the heritage