Wenchang Sacrifice
Wenchang worship originated from the ancestral worship of the Di people in Zitong. It is a folk cultural activity that gradually emerged in the process of Wenchang belief. Wenchang worship includes three forms: Taoist worship, official worship and folk worship, each of which has different procedures and etiquette. Taoism highly respects Wenchang Emperor Zhang Yazi and has a relatively complex sacrificial ritual. Among them, "Guangcheng Yizhi Wenchang Zhengchao Quanji" has the greatest influence. Before the sacrifice, a Taoist altar must be set up, and in front of the Taoist altar, the "Three Pure Ones of Nothingness and Nature, Three Realms and Three Treasures of the Heavenly Lord" and "Nine Heavens Kaihua Qiqu Wenchang Hongren Emperor Rebirth Eternal Life of the Heavenly Lord" are enshrined. Opposite the Taoist altar is the opposite altar, which enshrines the "Innate Imperial Front Holding Heart and Protecting the Dao Three Five Fire Train King Heavenly Lord Weiling Manifestation Heavenly Lord", "Wenchang Zuo Li Yingqian All Weiling", and "Three Realms Gongcao Four Value Envoys" gods. On both sides of the Taoist altar are scripture teachers, high priests, and two subjects. The high priest, the second class, and the scripture master enter the altar during the opening song. The scripture master enters from the master's door and returns to the scripture master's position after three bows. The instruments used by the scripture master include drums, cymbals, bells, chimes, two small, touch bells, large (small) wooden fish, etc. The official sacrifice is divided into spring and autumn, and is generally held in the temple fairs of Qiqushan Mountain in February and August. The spring sacrifice is a major sacrifice to Emperor Wenchang, held on Wenchang's birthday (February 3 every year). The spring sacrifice originated during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. Later, due to the continuous improvement of Wenchang's status, it was gradually incorporated into the official sacrifice in the Qing Dynasty. The autumn sacrifice arose during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is held on the first day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar every year. It is said to be the day when Wenchang achieves his true fruit. The autumn sacrifice ceremony is roughly the same as the spring sacrifice. Adding the autumn sacrifice is nothing more than making the Wenchang sacrifice activities more extensive, the content richer, the participants more extensive, and the influence of the sacrifice expanded. Compared with official sacrifices and Taoist sacrifices, the folk sacrifice of Wenchang has a longer history, and the form and content are more diverse. In Zitong, the hometown of Emperor Wenchang, large-scale activities include the Wenchang sweeping and welcoming the gods. In addition, the annual spring and autumn temple fairs of the big temple are grand events that showcase folk sacrifices. In the process of Emperor Wenchang's evolution from a human to a god, due to the worship of the people, the promotion of Taoism, and the continuous conferring of titles by feudal emperors, his sacrifice gradually presented a magnificent picture of grand scale and complicated rituals. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, the court "promoted it to the middle sacrifice, added dancers", and included it in the sacrificial ceremonies of the Ministry of Rites, which made the Wenchang sacrifice enter its heyday. In September 2006, the Wenchang sacrifice was announced by the Mianyang Municipal People's Government as the first batch of municipal intangible cultural heritage protection list. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)