Jingchu Centennial Folk Customs

This is Hubei, where the Yangtze River meets the Han River, a land where the local water and soil have nurtured a folk culture imbued with a distinct "jianghu" (river-and-lake, or adventurous) spirit. From the Jianghan Plain to the western Hubei mountains, customs across the land of Jingchu are as numerous as the stars in the sky, some as bold and unrestrained as the exhilaration of jianghu heroes, and some as delicate as the marriage vows carved on wooden beds with intricate designs. Each and every one of them is steeped in the character of the local environment and inscribed with the vitality passed down from generation to generation.

Wuhan Summer Night Bamboo Bed Array

Every year from the summer solstice to July, the sweltering summer nights drive Wuhan residents out of their homes, forcing them to set up bamboo beds along the streets for sleeping outdoors.  The scent of gardenia dew wafts between the bamboo beds, and the old man on the next bed uses a fan made of palm leaves to cool the neighboring children.  Young couples share chilled plum juice under the moonlight.  The bamboo beds are packed closely together, with the elderly, children, youth, young women, and girls all lying on them, spending night after night this way.  When northern visitors are amazed by the revealing attire on the streets, the locals find it perfectly normal.  The scorching summer temperatures in Wuhan can reach up to 40°C, giving rise to the unique local custom of the "bamboo bed array"

Dragon Boat Racing on Dragon Boat Festival

Eating zongzi (rice dumplings) and racing dragon boats are customs observed in many parts of China. However, this tradition originated from commemorating Qu Yuan, making it especially prevalent in Hubei, Qu Yuan's hometown. During the Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, various dragon boat racing activities are widely held, such as the dragon and phoenix boats in Xinti, Honghu; the Shenzhou Festival at Daoshi Fu, Xisai Mountain in Huangshi; the flower-weaving dragon boats in Zhaoshan, Ezhou; and the land dragon boat races in Zelin, Ezhou. The original theme of the Dragon Boat Festival was to prevent epidemics and ward off evil spirits and poisons. Folk customs often include making heart-shaped sachets for children and egg nets with colored threads, which are remnants of the ancient practice of tying five-colored silk threads and long-life strings. Seasonal foods for the Dragon Boat Festival include sesame cakes, mung bean cakes, zongzi, and salted eggs.

Tongshan Mountain Drum

In the southern mountainous region of Hubei, whenever the rhythmic beats of "Dong! Da! Dong Da!" are heard, the old farmers know it's time to head to the fields for work. The Tongshan Mountain Drum resembles a small tambourine, played with a stick in the right hand while the left hand supports the bottom of the drum, adjusting the tone with fingers. The high-pitched melodies echo through the mountains, with the rhythm changing according to the type of labor: light and brisk during rice planting, and spirited during harvesting. It's called "Washan Drum" (Mountain Digging Drum) when used in mountainous labor, and "Zaitian Drum" (Rice Planting Drum) when used in paddy field work. These work songs not only serve as a timekeeper but also reflect the straightforward and generous character of the mountain people. In 1988, an adapted version of the "Xiyunhe" (Joyful Rice Planting) Mountain Drum won a provincial award.

Qianjiang Straw Dragon

Qianjiang Straw Dragon is a national-level intangible cultural heritage, named after being made by tying straw together. It is said that in ancient times, a blackdragon that brought clouds and rain accidentally fell here, and the villagers used straw to cover its body, which later evolved into the straw dragon. The dance of the straw dragon is mostly performed during the Spring Festival or the Dragon Head-Raising Festival on the second day of the second lunar month, as well as the Zhonghe Festival. It is also randomly performed in response to droughts, floods, pandemics, and during folk activities. Specific dances include the "Yellow Dragon Coiling Around the Pole" for praying for rain, the "Dragon's Gate Formation" for driving out evil spirits, the "Long Snake Formation" for seeking children, and the "Bowing to the Four Directions" for laying the foundation of a house. Each dance routine corresponds to a specific object of sacrifice and expresses different psychological appeals. After being danced three times, the straw dragon must be burned in an open field or lowland to send the dragon god back to heaven.

Enshi Girls' Gathering

The "Daughters' Festival" of the Tujia people in western Hubei originates from Shihuiyao and Dashanding in Enshi City. This marital custom has been passed down to the present day, with a history of nearly 300 years. Originally, the Daughters' Festival was a day for young Tujia men and women to gather and express their love for each other. It was held on the third day of the fifth lunar month at Xiangbanxi in Dashanding and on the twelfth day of the seventh lunar month at Shihuiyao. In the past, Tujia girls were not allowed to go outdoors on a daily basis, and they would only gather on the ninth day of the seventh lunar month each year to meet, use songs as a medium to express their feelings, and make lifelong commitments. In the center of the venue, twelve ever-burning lamps were placed, and unmarried men and women danced around the lamps in the "Eight Treasures Bell Dance". If a young man took a fancy to a girl, he would tie a knot around her ankle with the rattan he carried. This ancient marital custom has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage and has formed a unique folk art song-matching festival. Its ecological form has been incorporated into local tourism projects in western Hubei, preserving its original form intact.