Wenchang Tour
Wenchang's tour refers to a folk custom that originated and spread in Zitong, Mianyang, Sichuan and its surrounding areas. It is the most concentrated expression of the belief in Wenchang. According to the "Wenchang Temple Monument" written by He Guangyu, a Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty and a native of the county in the 28th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1549), the folk custom of Wenchang's tour should have begun before the 5th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty. "Wenchang's tour" is one of the major sacrificial activities of Wenchang, an important folk custom of the Spring Festival in Zitong area, and a folk custom that has been preserved by ordinary people and has existed to this day in fragmentary changes or relatively stable forms. Wenchang Emperor and his Holy Father and Holy Mother are enshrined in the Qiqushan Temple. In order to show the worship of Wenchang, Wenchang, the Holy Father and the Holy Mother are respectfully invited from the Qiqushan Temple in the north of the city on the twelfth day of the first lunar month of the Spring Festival every year to tour into the city and celebrate with the people and spend the New Year together. The main procedures of Wenchang's tour are divided into several stages: sweeping, welcoming Wenchang, offering sacrifices to Wenchang, and sending Wenchang off. The folk custom of Wenchang Parade is grand and involves many people. In the old days, every time the "Wenchang Parade" came, the streets were empty, showing us a colorful picture of folk customs. Wenchang Parade comprehensively and profoundly reflects the living customs and religious beliefs formed by the long farming culture. The music, dance, and the production of Wenchang sedan chairs, tin ceremonial guards, and wooden statues are the historical crystallization of the wisdom of the working people and have high artistic value. After the founding of New China, the folk custom of Wenchang Parade was interrupted for a time. Today, many descendants who are familiar with the ritual have passed away, and some documents and materials have been lost. "Wenchang Parade" is highly endangered. On March 1, 2007, Wenchang Parade was announced by the Sichuan Provincial People's Government (Sichuan Government Letter [2007] No. 42) as the first batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage protection list.