Wansui Dongyue Temple Fair

Jiangsu
🎧  Listen to Introduction

Menghe, known as the "hometown of Qi and Liang", is a town with a 2,500-year history of written records. It is a famous historical and cultural town in contemporary China. The humanities and history here are very rich, containing the traditional culture of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Because emperors came out from here, the imperial culture, Qi and Liang culture, and the culture of harmony of the three religions were produced here. Under the influence of these profound historical and cultural factors, the humanistic quality of the residents here is very high, and many beliefs have been generated. Among these beliefs, the earliest belief is the "Dongyue belief". "Dongyue belief" is the belief in the mountain god Dongyue Emperor of Mount Tai in Taoism. Since Mount Tai is the highest among the Five Mountains, emperors of many dynasties went to Mount Tai to pray to the heaven and gave various titles to Dongyue Emperor, making him a god who dominates life, death, peace and happiness. Wansui Dongyue Temple was originally named "Wansui Dongyue Palace" and was founded in the fifth year of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty. In order to express the belief in Dongyue, temple fairs are held every year on the 28th day of the third lunar month and the sixth day of the tenth lunar month to pray for good weather and good harvests. The traditional temple fair is very grand. Taoist priests, believers and common people from surrounding areas come to participate. Art teams from all over the country also come to perform. Every three years, the Emperor of Dongyue will hold a consecration ceremony before the fair. Each Dongyue temple fair lasts at least three days and at most seven days. At that time, the city gods in the area must come to make a pilgrimage. After worshipping the Emperor of Dongyue in the temple, the Emperor of Dongyue will be held on an imperial scale. Road sacrifices are set up on the way to the tour. During the day, the White Mansion is set up, and at night, the Night Mansion is set up. In the Night Mansion, a stage is set up for dramas, and a Taoist temple is set up. Taoist priests and believers accompany the night, and there are performances and competitions by art teams. The Emperor of Dongyue must be picked up and dropped off wherever he goes. Believers and common people will behave very piously to move the heavens and grant the area peace, good weather, and good harvests. This folk custom is used to express people's belief in praying for health and happiness, peace and prosperity, and a good harvest.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

China tourist attractions related to the heritage