Zhangjia Dragon Lantern Making Technique

Shandong
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The craftsmanship of making dragon lanterns of the Zhang family has a history of more than 100 years since the first year of the Guangxu period. The dragon lantern of the Zhang family is a dragon lantern art made of paper and bamboo strips. The materials are selected according to local conditions and are simple and easy to obtain. The production process includes three steps: tying, pasting and painting. Bamboo is used as the skeleton, and the paper is pasted on the outside and then painted. The dragon head is exquisitely made, and the candle is built in. The production of the dragon head is very complicated. The beard is made of hemp, and the dragon head is equipped with bells, ribbons and other decorations. Candles are placed on the dragon body, two per section. Each candle burns for about half an hour, and there is a mouth at the top, which can be easily replaced by candles and smoke. The traditional "dragon lantern production" of the Zhang family includes two parts: dragon lantern production and dragon lantern performance. The dragon lantern performance includes "two dragons playing with pearls", "lying dragon", "big tail swinging", "small tail swinging", "inside wrapping", "outside wrapping" and other movements. The dragon dancers of each dragon are composed of dozens of people, mainly running formations, one person in front fights the dragon with a hydrangea, and the rest all lift the dragon, some stand up and some lie down, staggered. When dancing the dragon lantern, there is an exquisitely made "mother and child lantern" leading the way in front, and the accompaniment of "dragon tail drum music" in the back, with trumpets and wisps of fireworks on both sides. When several dragons gather together, they circle and tumble, circle and straighten, accompanied by large and small firecrackers, gongs, drums and suonas, with the power to call the wind and rain and turn the rivers and seas upside down.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

China tourist attractions related to the heritage