Zhao County Fanzhuang Dragon Card Festival
Fanzhuang Village, Zhao County, Hebei Province is located about 65 kilometers southeast of Shijiazhuang. The Fanzhuang Dragon Tablet Association has a long history. Villagers have always believed that they are the descendants of Gou Long, the son of ancient Gonggong. Every year from the first to the fourth day of the second lunar month, a grand Dragon Tablet Association is held to worship wooden dragon tablets and all gods and earthly gods. The 12 characters "The God of the Three Realms of Heaven and Earth and Ten Directions of the True Dragon" are engraved in the center and below the dragon tablet. Gradually, a well-organized, unique and long-standing folk belief society organization "Fanzhuang Dragon Tablet Association" has been formed. Before the end of the first month of each year, the villagers set up a shed of about one acre in size and a stage for opera performances in an open space in the south of the village, and make all preparations. In the early morning of the first day of the second lunar month, more than 130 gods are hung in the shed, leaving a large space in the middle to place the main dragon tablet. At the same time, another part of the villagers go to the on-duty meeting head to prepare to welcome the dragon tablet. After burning incense and paper and praying for the dragon, the dragon tablet was taken out and placed in a yellow-curtained sedan chair, which was carried to the shrine by the young men of Fanzhuang Village. Women walked with glass boxes containing collected white moths, and dozens of flower fair acrobatic teams were arranged in order on the streets leading from the shrine to the shrine, performing slowly to guide the dragon tablet. At this time, the villagers of Fanzhuang came out of their homes, and people from dozens of villages came to the fair to visit. It was a sea of joy and excitement, and it was called the "Carnival" of the East. At about 11 o'clock in the morning, the dragon tablet was welcomed into the shrine, the glass box containing the white moth was placed, and the dragon god took the throne. The dragon sacrifice began, and all the participants knelt down to worship the dragon tablet. The descendants of the dragon worshipped the dragon god, and the scene was very solemn. The flower fairs of various kinds performed in the square in front of the shrine to show their talents and entertain the gods. After that, every household in Fanzhuang Village went to the shrine to worship the dragon tablet. The second day of the first lunar month is the main day of worship. The various flower associations that came to the first day of the first lunar month to perform in the square to add to the fun. This activity continues until the fourth day of the first lunar month. The dragon tablet sending ceremony is held in the afternoon of the fourth day of the first lunar month. The various flower associations that participated in the dragon tablet invitation ceremony on the first day of the first lunar month appear in front of the shrine again. The dragon tablet is taken out of the shrine and sent to the original guild leader's home along the original route. After being worshipped there for two days, on the sixth day of the second lunar month, the dragon tablet is sent to the home of the next guild leader on duty. At this point, the dragon worship ceremony of Fanzhuang Dragon Tablet Association is over, and the guild leader on duty will take on the task of serving the dragon tablet that year. Fanzhuang Dragon Tablet Association is a complex and comprehensive cultural phenomenon with rich ideological and cultural connotations. It is closely related to the production and life of the people. It has high academic and practical value in social organization, politics, economy, cultural education, and ethical and moral education.