Seasonal Festivals

Geographical coordinates: Zhangzhou Prefectural City, Haicheng (Yuegang), Zhishan Mountain, Jiulong River, Tongji Bridge, Guiyu Island Have you ever wondered how people celebrated New Year 400 years ago? I was flipping through the Wanli Zhangzhou Fu Zhi when I noticed something: out of 32 volumes, two are dedicated entirely to customs — Volume 2 (Customs) and Volume 6 (Etiquette). Not a casual mention. From exactly how to worship ancestors on New Year’s Day, to how loud the Dragon Boat drums were, to how much a wedding cost — every detail, meticulously recorded. ...

When Quanzhou people describe their city, they use a phrase: “Half city of smoke, half city of immortals.” The first time I heard it, I thought it was just poetic exaggeration. Then I read the Wanli Quanzhou Prefecture Chronicle and the Quanzhou Religious Chronicle. Turns out it’s not poetry at all. It’s journalism. Starting in 1087, when Quanzhou established the Maritime Trade Office, ships from everywhere poured into this port city with goods and wealth. When the money rolled in, people started to have fun — lantern festivals, dragon boat races, weddings, worship ceremonies. Everything done on a grand scale. ...