CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- A reporter learned from the Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Commission that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China held the review and naming of 2021-2023 “Homes of Chinese Folk Culture and Art”. After review and publicity, it decided to name 183 counties (cities, districts), villages and towns (sub-districts) as 2021-2023 “Homes of Chinese Folk Culture and Art”, and five places of Chongqing were on the list.

Such five places are Tongliang District (Dragon Lantern and Dancing), Qijiang District (Printmaking), Liangping Liangshan Sub-district (Liangshan Lantern Opera), Rongchang Anfu Sub-district (Pottery Making Techniques) and Wansheng Jinqiao Town (Jinqiao Blowing and Beating to Play Music). Now let’s learn more about these places and the reason why they were on the list.

Tongliang – Dragon Lantern and Dancing

Tongliang Dragon Dancing is a folk dance art form with dragon, which is popular in Tongliang District, Chongqing Municipality. In 2006, Tongliang Dragon Lantern and Dancing were listed as the representative of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. There are more than 30 sets, including two series such as Dragon Lantern Dancing and Colorful Lantern Dancing.

Tongliang Dragon Lantern and Dancing have participated in the National Day celebrations in 1984, 1999 and 2009, and performed at major domestic events such as 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 2010 Shanghai World Expo and 2019 National Day Celebration. Their unique artistic charm has made Tongliang Dragon Lantern and Dancing veritable national cultural brands.

Qijiang – Printmaking

Qijiang is a “China’s Modern Folk Painting Township” named by the Ministry of Culture. Originated from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the wooden New Year Print is a kind of artistic work carved on the wood board and then rubbed. The composition of the work is bright and colorful. Most of the works are based on the production and life practices of the vast peasants, so they have strong folk customs and life atmosphere.

Since 2003, it has been determined as cultural exchange gifts by Chongqing, successively exhibited in Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu, Wuhan, Nanjing and other cities, and invited to more than 300 countries including the United States, Japan, Britain, France, Canada, Norway and others on display.

So far, more than 1,500 prints have been collected by the National Art Museum of China, provincial (municipal) museums, Chinese embassies abroad and foreign art museums.

Liangping Liangshan Sub-district – Liangshan Lantern Opera

Liangshan Lantern Opera was formed in the reign of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty and was named after Liangshan in ancient times. It is the representative of Sichuan Opera lantern opera in eastern Chongqing and originated from the folk “Lantern Playing” and “Yangko Dance”. In 2006, Liangshan Lantern Opera was listed in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Catalogue.

Liangshan Lantern Opera is a kind of local opera formed by absorbing the artistic essence of Bayu folk songs, folk music and folk dance. Its main contents are life dramas, singing for folk ditty, and village ditty, and it has a flavor of local life and folk characteristic.

Rongchang Anfu Sub-district (Pottery Making Techniques)

“Rongchang Pottery” generally refers to the pottery produced in Rongchang, Chongqing. It is mainly concentrated in the Anfu Sub-district and has high artistic value and profound cultural connotation, so it essentially represents Rongchang Pottery.

In May 2011, Rongchang pottery making techniques were listed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Catalogue. Rongchang Pottery which emerged in the Han Dynasty, along with Jiangsu Yixing Zisha Pottery, Guangxi Qinzhou Pottery and Yunan Jianshui Pottery were named as the four famous pottery of China. It has a history of more than 2,000 years.  

Wansheng Jinqiao Town (Jinqiao Blow and Beat)

This is one of the Folk Arts listed as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. “Jinqiao Blow and Beat”, formerly known as “Qingshan Blow and Beat”, originated from the Song and Yuan Dynasties and flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has a history of more than 700 years. It is one of the most representative and rare folk music in Bayu, with profound cultural deposits, a wide range of repertoire and distinctive national characteristics. 

There are categories such as festival, production and life, and folk tales. It has such characteristics as wide voice range, large volume, thick strength, bright tone and strong penetration. Especially, the “Sound of Horses and Wind” style is particularly outstanding. (Translated by Liu Hongyan, Fathom Language Limited)