What traditional culture does Henan have?

1. Shaolin Martial Arts Festival

Shaolin Martial Arts is a wonder among Chinese martial arts and a national treasure. In order to promote Chinese martial arts and expand opening to the outside world, Zhengzhou has held the "China Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival" since 1991, which is held every other year.

During the Wushu Festival, exciting martial arts competitions and performances will be held, as well as economic, trade, scientific and technological exchanges, and various cultural, artistic, entertainment and tourism activities with national and local characteristics.

This is a large-scale international comprehensive event that integrates economy, trade, culture, tourism, and science and technology. It attracts hundreds of thousands of people at home and abroad to Zhengzhou every time.

2. Ancient Yinglong Dance

The dragon dance in Guying Town, Mangshan District, Zhengzhou City has a history of nearly a thousand years. Every Dragon Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, people from hundreds of miles around flock to Guying to watch. It is said that Emperors Qianlong and Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty both visited Guying to watch the dragon dance. After 1949, the ancient Yinglong dance was innovatively developed and its acting skills became increasingly sophisticated.

It draws on the characteristics of various dragon dances and is different from other dragon dances. The story is complete and vivid, the plot is twists and turns and touching, the performance scenes are grand, and the artistic style is unique. The whole performance is divided into 10 scenes, including the fish leaping over the dragon gate, the golden dragon emerging from the south gate, the dragon snail and the jade pillar, the two dragons playing with each other, rescuing the blue dragon, the two dragons playing with the pearl, and the victory dance.

The ancient Yinglong Dance has been passed down to this day. Its great influence and long history are rare in the Central Plains. In 1988, the ancient Ying dragon dance was invited to participate in the Dragon Dance Competition of the Beijing International Tourism Year and became well-known in the capital.

3. Smiling umbrella

A folk art spread in Xingyang area. Legend has it that in the twelfth year of the Sui Dynasty (616), the Wagang Army rebelled. Zhai Rang used Li Mi's plan to break the Jinhan Pass and advance to Xingyang.

Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty sent general Zhang Xutuo to guard Xingyang, and cooperated with the general of Xingyang, Wang Qing, to join forces to attack. The Wagang army was unfavorable in the first battle, so they took advantage of the opportunity of playing with lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and cleverly disguised themselves as folk singers and dancers.

Sneaking into the city along with the folk social fire, they cooperated internally and externally, and conquered Xingyang in one fell swoop. Laughing Umbrella was one of the programs performed by the rebels at that time. The funny old man holding the umbrella in the song and dance team is the famous Cheng Yaojin, and the other two actors and actresses are also rebel warriors.

4. Rhythm, stick and whip

Folk songs and dances popular in Xingyang area, the origin of which is unknown. There are only 3 actors, 1 male and 2 female. Qin is accompanied by fine musical instruments, and Bai is composed of 8 to 10 people. Its rhythm is relaxed and smooth. There are more than 10 types of tunes, including "Shuidiao", "Jianjianhua", "Jianjianhua changes into a new tune", "Manzhou", "Double Cuicui", "Xiahe" and "Duihua".

During the performance, the male actor plays the role of husband-in-law and the actress plays the role of young lady, holding bamboo-eye money. The dance moves start with the melody. The male actor holds a fan in his right hand, singing and dancing, while the female actor holds a bamboo whip and strikes it up and down in accordance with the beat. The dance reflects the love between young men and women during an outing.

5. Unicorn

A unique folk dance spread in Xinzheng. It was created by the working people in ancient times based on the story of Xingtian Wuqi, reflecting the worship of the beheaded hero who was not afraid of rape. During the performance, the unicorn jumps, rolls, and jumps around the table, and exaggerates the waist to show the unicorn's violent roar or docile and calm expression.

Later, to the accompaniment of the urgent "noisy stage" music, the beast fighter appeared with a whip and fought hard with the unicorn. Its movements such as "head-beating", "leg-beating", "rolling", "crossing the table", "handstand" and "catching the beast" are rough and humorous, lively and interesting, and have a unique artistic style.

6. Sutra Dancing

A folk dance popular in the Xinmi area. During the temple fair, women carry homemade flower baskets (prayer poles) to offer incense in front of the temple fair gods, and then hum scripture songs and dance on the prayer poles in the open space in front of the temple to show their piety to the gods. The music and accompaniment of the jingdan dance are mainly sutras. The music used is wooden fish and bells, and the accompaniment is sutras.

7. Zhang Gong carries Zhang Po on his back

A folk dance popular in the Xinmi area. There were only two people participating in the performance, the costumes and props were simple, and the characters were humorous. During the performance, the dance music adopts the tunes of Liushuiban, Yang Tiao, Yin Twisted Silk, Han River and other local operas. It is said that Duke Zhang was a domestic servant of Jie Zitui, a nobleman of Jin State. Jie Zitui was hiding in Mianshan and did not want to serve as an official.

Jin Wengong burned Mianshan to force him to come out of the mountain, and Jie Zitui was burned to death. Zhang Gong carried his mother-in-law out of the sea of ??fire and regarded her as his adoptive mother. Mr. Zhang was a loyal man, and he was afraid that his mother would be lonely at home or hurt by wild animals when he went out. Therefore, whether he was plowing the fields or going to the market, he had to carry his mother on his back until her death.

In order to commemorate Zhang Gong's righteous deeds, later generations choreographed this dance to show their respect.