Dear readers: Hello!
Today, I have the honor to share with you a story full of tradition, and its protagonist is Mr. Zou Yute, the chief gunner of Binyang County, Nanning, Guangxi. Time flies, time flies, and in a blink of an eye, he is still active in the scene of various folk activities, and his love for the art of the cannon dragon is overflowing.
On January 16, 2024, at the Cannon Dragon Festival in Binyang County, Master Zou Yute, who was busy assembling the cannon faucet, was pleasantly surprised to find me, he smiled, clasped my hand and said, "It turned out to be you!" Do you know? It's been a long time since we last saw each other......The New Year is coming, let's review the spirit of the dragon again! "The years have been tempered, but the green original intention of the dragon culture is still shining.
In fact, Master Zou Yute's friendship with Paolong began in 2006. Over the years, although time has taken away many things, what is truly eternal is his fiery and persistent heart, but also the exquisite beauty and unique skills of the dragon culture.
Binyang County, the seat of the Binyang County Party Committee in Nanning City, Guangxi, is famous for its colorful Cannon Dragon Festival, where many Han and Zhuang people live. With the help of the platform of the Cannon Dragon Festival, people have gathered together to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The cannon dragon danced and was lively, with the sound of firecrackers, gongs and drums, and laughter one after another; Visitors have fun participating in the big carnival, stealing firecrackers, or praying for good luck.
Here, I would like to mention in particular the production materials of Binyang Cannon Dragon, which is extremely simple, just impregnated with colored paper of different shades of dye, and then combined with bundles of bamboo strips to successfully create a vivid image of the Cannon Dragon. Some cannonballs are tens of meters long, like divine dragons swimming; Some gunheads even use flickering lights to light up their eyes, as if a dragon is about to break out of its cocoon.
One day in the early summer of this year, I came to Binyang County again and witnessed the demeanor of the cannon dragon. The cannon dragon in the hands of those simple and unpretentious folk artists is dancing slowly in the hustle and bustle of firecrackers with its unique charm. Citizens watched these dancing cannon dragons with anticipation for the future. At this moment, Uncle Zou Yute was busy greeting the guests, smiling and preparing for the wonderful performance that would be displayed on the night of the Cannon Dragon Festival.
As time goes by, the Lantern Festival is approaching, the Cannon Dragon Festival is coming again, and the performance I agreed with Master Zou Yute is about to be staged. That night, we started the show on time, with the roar of cannons, gongs and drums, and the whole city was immersed in a joyful and lively atmosphere. Dancers dressed in red dragon robes and hats crossed between the cannon dragons. At the feet of the cannon dragon, the scene of joy and frolic makes people feel extremely warm. I look forward to the future, to the continued prosperity of the dragon culture, and to the happiness that more people can feel.
Finally, I would like to say that whether it is a local government that attaches importance to traditional culture or ordinary citizens who love folk customs, they must take practical actions to welcome this carnival that belongs to the sons and daughters of China. Only when everyone can do their best to make the dragon culture glow with more dazzling brilliance, can we truly protect the lingering national feelings in our hearts. Let us look forward to working together to pass on the art of the cannon dragon to more young generations, so that this ancient skill will be revitalized in the new era, and the joy of the Lantern Festival will always be engraved in the hearts of every Chinese son. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post, and may the spirit of the cannon dragon become a wonderful memory in everyone's life. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and all the best!