Zhenguan Temple Fair on Qionglong Mountain

Jiangsu
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The temple fair of Shangzhen Temple on Qionglong Mountain is a folk custom project in the fifth batch of representative projects of Suzhou's municipal intangible cultural heritage. Qionglong Mountain is located in the southwest of Suzhou City, on the shore of Taihu Lake. It is named Qionglong because of its high, steep and deep mountain. Shangzhen Temple on Qionglong Mountain is located on the top of Sanmao Peak on Qionglong Mountain. It was built during the reign of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty and has been rebuilt many times since then. During the Shunzhi period, it was renovated and expanded. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty went to Jiangnan six times and climbed Shangzhen Temple on Qionglong Mountain six times to pray for blessings. At that time, there were more than 5,000 halls and rooms, which could accommodate 10,000 people. There were 36 halls built, making it the center of Taoist activities in Jiangnan. There are many temple fairs at Shangzhen Temple, especially the temple fair on the birthday of Thunder God on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month. It started in the seventh year of Shunzhi (1650) and reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. Li Genyuan, a veteran of the Republic of China, once participated in the temple fair. It was interrupted during the Cultural Revolution and resumed in 1991 until now. On the day of the temple fair, the Taoist priests in the temple will hold a fasting and offering ceremony. The main activities of fasting and offering ceremony include praying for blessings and thanksgiving, curing diseases and prolonging life, gathering blessings and prolonging life, wishing the country auspicious, praying for clear weather and rain, relieving disasters and warding off disasters, celebrating birthdays, etc., praying for peace and prosperity for the people of the world. Every time the temple fair comes, the mountain gate is as noisy as a market. Pilgrims from all over the country dance yangge, play lotus, carry flower baskets, dance dragon lanterns, and hold various folk cultural and entertainment activities in the square in front of the mountain gate of Shangzhen Temple. They also go to Shangzhen Temple to eat "Lei Zhai Su". It is said that eating "Lei Zhai Su" can bless the whole family with peace. The boat gangs in the Taihu area will also come to Shangzhen Temple on this day, beating gongs and drums, blowing suona, and carrying offerings. They worship Mazu and pray that they will go out fishing and return safely. On this day, pilgrims from Shanghai and Jiangsu also come to Shangzhen Temple to offer incense and pray. The nearby villagers come to the mountain to do odd jobs, carry sedan chairs, and serve as guides, and they are busy all the time. The Shangzhen Temple Fair has unique Taoist music and rich folk literature and art. It uses the temple fair as a platform to showcase local handicrafts such as Suzhou embroidery, inkstones, stone pots, wooden toys, bonsai, and delicacies and seasonal snacks such as sugar boards, cotton candy, crabapple cakes, and black rice. It integrates religion, culture, art, and tourism, forming a temple fair culture with Jiangnan characteristics. Its large scale, far-reaching radiation, and large number of people are rare. The Shangzhen Temple Fair has a long history and rich connotations. It is an important material for studying Jiangnan Taoist culture and has historical and cultural value. The Taoist music and folk art presented in the temple fair have great artistic aesthetic value. The temple fair integrates Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and religion and folk customs, folk beliefs, and social psychology are closely intertwined. It is a vivid example of studying religion, folklore, social psychology, etc., and has scientific value.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

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