People’s customs in Yanjia Town

Every year on the 24th of the sixth lunar month, the Pigeon Festival is held in Yanjia Town as scheduled. At that time, pigeon fanciers from all over the country will gather in Yanjialing with their favorite pigeons and a happy mood to celebrate the harvest, enjoy peace and celebrate the pigeon-loving festival.

The Pigeon Fair in Yanjia Town, Luojiang County is the oldest, most distinctive and largest pigeon event in Sichuan. The local party committee and government have made full use of this leading resource advantage in Sichuan to strive to build a town with pigeon characteristics and strive to create a Bashu cultural brand, making the Pigeon Club famous in the city, county, and province. In Sichuan, far more people know about the Yanjia Pigeon Club than about Yanjia Town in Luojiang County. How did the Yanjialing Shanda pigeons come into being? There is also a long historical origin.

According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei led his army to attack Shu. When they arrived at Fuguan (today's Mianyang), he and military advisor Pang Tong divided their troops to attack Luocheng (today's Guanghan) in two groups. The troops passed by Lutou Mountain (today's Baima) Pass) About 20 miles away from Yanjialing, I saw dangerous mountains ahead, gloomy trees and bamboos, and thorns everywhere. Pang Tong was suspicious and feared an ambush, so he borrowed two carrier pigeons from a commoner's house on the mountain, and exchanged white horses with Liu Bei for the journey. When Pang Tongbing arrived at the southern slope of Lutouguan (Luofengpo), he encountered Shu general Zhang Ren ambushing his troops. Immediately, arrows fell like rain, and the soldiers were attacked from two sides. The Shu soldiers knew that Liu Bei was riding a white horse, so they used all their strength to shoot and kill all the soldiers. All died. Pang Tong was hit by several arrows. Before he died, he pulled out the bleeding arrows and wrote down the battle situation. The information was quickly passed to Liu Bei by a carrier pigeon, and Liu Bei adjusted his attack strategy in time. In gratitude for Pang Tong's contribution to delivering messages, Liu Bei gave the pigeon breeder a silver coin and gave the pair of pigeons the nickname "Phoenix". "Phoenix" also means "phoenix chick", which is Pang Tong's brand name. Later, people on the mountain raised pigeons in their homes to commemorate Pang Tong. Everyone loved pigeons and regarded pigeons as "phoenix chicks" and worshiped them as gods. Later, people built the "Phoenix" temple on Yanjialing. On the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, there is a gathering at the "Phoenix Temple". It has become a well-known fashion to attend temple fairs, fly carrier pigeons, watch dramas, seek good luck, and have leisure and entertainment. There are even more myths and legends: Firstly, it is said that all pigeons who catch up with the pigeons will not get sick or suffer from plague; secondly, no matter how long the drought lasts, it will rain whenever the pigeons gather, which is said to be the God who sheds tears to mourn the "phoenix chicks". It was sunny for a few days before and after June 24th last year, but there was a heavy rain shower in the morning of Gegehui, which added a touch of coolness to the sultry "Dog Day". It can't but be said to be a coincidence.

In order to carry forward this precious historical and cultural heritage, the local party committee and government have injected new vitality into the traditional event. They combine the pigeon club with social and economic development and business activities. In addition to the annual pigeon club, a large-scale pigeon trade fair is held every five to ten years. The duration of the pigeon trade fair is extended from the usual one day to three to five days. At the first Pigeon Trade Fair in 2000, the deputy county magistrate solemnly announced the opening of the Pigeon Trade Fair. 80% of the investment promotion projects signed at the meeting have taken root and blossomed in the Yan family. Among them, Deyang Zhenyun Plastic Co., Ltd. has become a private enterprise with a registered capital of 65 million yuan, sales revenue of hundreds of millions of yuan, and profits and taxes of over 10 million yuan. Deyang Zhenyun Plastic Co., Ltd. has become a city and county-level private enterprise. key enterprises and the pillar industry of the town. The Yanjia branch of the Luojiang County Homing Pigeon Association was established to include pigeon racing activities as an important part of the pigeon club, as an integral part of the national fitness activities, as a part of the construction of spiritual civilization, and to highlight the beautiful scenery of the hometown of homing pigeons' characteristic culture. Use the Pigeon Club as a platform for pigeon exchanges to continuously expand the pigeon breeding team and improve the quality of pigeons.

Wei Yifan, Bashan, Xiao Jian, the famous pigeon breeders and racing pigeons in Chengdu, Wang Kongxing, the racing director of the Deyang Pigeon Association, Li Shunfu, the national first-level referee and the chief referee of the Municipal Pigeon Association, as well as Deyang, Guanghan, Mianzhu, Shifang, Zhongjiang Leaders of pigeon associations in counties and cities such as , Mianyang, Anxian and other counties have attended the meeting to provide guidance. The leaders of the town party committee, government and city and county pigeon clubs presented awards and banners to the winning pigeon owners in the competition. During the pigeon festival, we organize floats, parades, and costume parades from all villages, towns, and units, and the sister-in-law song and dance troupe performs in the square; Sichuan opera performers sing in teahouses to show their talents, and cultural films are sent to the countryside to add to the fun; street banners, promotional slogans, and homing pigeons return home Ranking list, adding festive joy to the town. Standardize the establishment of homing pigeon trading venues. There are various places for high, medium and low-end racing pigeons, meat pigeons and ornamental pigeons. Books and magazines such as "Chinese Pigeon", "Sichuan Pigeon News", "Pigeon Fanciers", "Soaring", "Racing Pigeon World", etc. are dazzling. Pigeon cages, There are so many pigeon medicines and daily products for racing pigeons. The shops on both sides are lined with tables, chairs and benches, and tea bowls and tea are prepared for pigeon fanciers.

Pigeons symbolize "peace, friendship, and good luck." Pigeon Country has opened its doors to pigeon fanciers and people with lofty ideals. Pigeons are used to socialize, attract business, and lend wings to people, which meets people's cultural life needs and promotes social and economic development.

Of course the Yanjia Town Pigeon Club will become more and more popular.