Unique Hakka Culture of Luhe in Shanwei

Rich tourism resources

Luhe is a pure Hakka county and located in Chaoshan dialect area, which has evolved a unique Hakka style for a long time. In terms of folk art, there are oral literature such as stories, jokes, proverbs, proverbs, two-part allegorical sayings, legends and folk songs, as well as cultural performances such as waist encouragement, yangko dancing, walking on stilts, lion dancing, playing with dragons, supporting scenery, moving landscape, puppet shows, acrobatic magic and eight-tone brand, as well as traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, wood carving, clay sculpture and lantern tying. Hakka food culture is also unique, such as tea-smashing, rice-beating, rice-making, rice wine-making, bean curd-making, pickled vegetables-making, and tie-head cakes, which are quite famous.

Folk customs have strong Hakka characteristics in mountainous areas. There are many festivals in mountainous areas, which are related to farming. For example, when the "beginning of autumn" is planted in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, farmers make a bumper harvest to celebrate the early harvest and complete the late planting task, so as to slaughter chickens and ducks, make zanba, thank the gods, and thank relatives and friends for helping each other; In some places, straw sheds were built on the "Winter Solstice" to make Ciba and store winter feed for cattle. Thanks to the hard work of the old cattle. In celebrating the New Year's Lantern Festival, lion dance teams and folk art classes were organized to celebrate the New Year and visit the village to enhance the unity and friendship of the villagers; There are young men and women in mountainous areas who swing on swings and ride in cars, and young men are distracted in competitions, showing that mountainous areas are tough and tenacious; Some rural women elaborately made "Michenggang" and "Jing" more than one meter high to worship the gods to show their cleverness and dexterity; There are river fields, spiral streams, estuaries, "high scenery" in huang tang and "landscape" in Xintian that show the wisdom of mountain people; And nanwan town's "Singing Elephant Songs" and "Dancing Elephant Dance". One of the more distinctive features is the "scenery" of the river field on the 2 th day of the first month of each year. "Scenery" is a beautiful and peculiar landscape, also known as "high platform floating color", with a long history.

Luhe is an outstanding person, and there have always been many talented people. Ye Mengxiong, Ye Gaobiao and other court officials appeared in the Ming Dynasty. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, a number of outstanding talents emerged in political, military, cultural and business circles. Members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the former Chinese leader, and Xie Fei, the vice chairman of the National People's Congress, were born here, and now the lieutenant general and deputy commander of a major military region. Lai Shaoqi, a famous master of calligraphy and painting, also grew up here. Mr. Peng Yunpeng, the Malaysian deck king, is also born in Luhe, and there are more than 3, overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan living in the county.

The natural landscape of the Luhe River is peculiar, with undulating mountains and overlapping layers. Among them, Nangao Gorge Scenic Area not only has an eagle's beak on the top and an eagle's beak on the bottom, such as two goshawks roaring in the sky, but also has strange boulders such as pomegranate flower stone, lion stone, bat stone and unicorn spitting fire, which are vivid and lifelike. "Sanmenzhai" Waterfall, with three waterfalls in a row, is as high as four or five meters, which is very spectacular. There is a stone cave in the river bed of the canyon, which is called "Stones with Beads". There is a round ball as big as volleyball in the cave. The water rushes over the stone and never stops, but it can't be taken out. It is a unique wonder.

The "dry land" of Shucun River in Luoxi Town is a peculiar landscape. The water came from the upper reaches of the river, and suddenly disappeared in the "drought", while the water flowed under the rugged "drought" of strange rocks, only to see the trace after hundreds of meters, and the interesting people hit it with stones, making a sound like a drum.

The special geological features make Luhe rich in hot spring resources. There are hot springs in five of the eight townships in the county. The larger ones are Shanghu Xialong Hot Spring and Hetian Tangzili Hot Spring. Shanghu hot spring belongs to calcium carbonate type, and the temperature ranges from 44℃ to 56℃. Hetian hot spring is sulfur and has a high temperature. The water quality in both places is good, and regular bathing can treat chronic arthritis, myocarditis and various skin diseases.

There are nine halls and eighteen wells, cage houses, Shangxianjia Temple, Five-Star Ancestral Hall, "Three Worlds and One Product" Temple, Shiyong Building in Yongzheng period of Qing Dynasty, and the ancient castle that participated in the city. There are some famous Buddhist temples such as Jianshan Temple, Juyun Temple, guangde temple, Huilong Temple, Shichuan Temple and Nanci Temple, which prove that Hakkas seek spiritual sustenance.

there are many historical relics of the luhe revolution. Xintianwei Catholic Church was the former site where Zhou Enlai lived in March and October 1925 when he led the revolutionary army to the East. It was also the place where the joint meeting of Party organizations and peasant associations in Hailufeng, Shantou and Huizhou counties was held in May 1927 during the Great Revolution, and it was decided to set up the general headquarters of "Hui, Chao and Mei" agricultural workers to save the Party army. There is the former site of the "Red Army Hospital" in Jishixi in 1929; In October 1927, there was the former site of the "Sanjiangkou" in Jishixi, the first part of the "August 1st" Nanchang Uprising (namely the Red Second Division). There is the former site of Gaogangzi in Jishixi, the seat of Hailuzi County Committee and county Soviet established in 193.

in February p>1949, Hetian was liberated, and in March, the Frontier and Longitudinal Command, Dongyi Command, Jiangnan District Committee and Lufeng County Committee successively entered, and Hetian became the command center for the liberation of Guangzhou in Dongjiang Revolutionary Base.

Luhe County is almost 1% Hakka County. It is understood that some residents in Henglong District of xin tian zhen speak Hakka and are familiar with "Fulao" dialect. The ancestors of Luhe originally lived in the Yellow River Basin, and moved southward in batches due to famine in history, and successively arrived in Gulongchuan, Tingzhou, Fujian and even Jiangxi. Most of their customs and habits retain the color of the Central Plains people, but they are also influenced by the customs of the Fulao people in Fujian and Guangdong. However, the traditional festivals have formed their own unique traditions. Now, the customs of Luhe festivals are described separately.

Chinese New Year is the biggest traditional festival for Hakkas in a year. Generally speaking, Luhe people's Chinese New Year customs can be summarized as follows: pre-holiday preparation, ancestor worship in the afternoon of 3, New Year's Eve dinner, observing the New Year's Eve, setting off firecrackers (opening firecrackers), fasting on the first day, opening the new year on the second day, sending the poor off at the third day, returning to their parents' home on the fourth day, celebrating the seventh day (eating seven kinds of vegetables and teas) and celebrating the fifteenth month and a half (having a Lantern Festival).

December 25th of the lunar calendar is called "annual price". On the afternoon of the third day, families use the fattest capon, pork, eggs and rice-and-rice wine to worship their ancestors collectively in this ancestral hall or ancestral hall. This is the Hakka people's collective ancestor worship by the traditional Confucian ethics hall or ancestral temple. This is because the Hakka people are influenced by the traditional Confucian ethics and retain the extremely solemn ancestor worship etiquette. From ancient times to the present, no one dares to neglect it and pass it on from generation to generation. After returning from ancestor worship, the whole family sat around a table to have a reunion dinner and watch the new year around the stove, and * * * celebrated family happiness. On the first day of the first month, every family should seriously choose the opening time. As early as 11: 3 on New Year's Eve in the spring, the slowest person will light a string of firecrackers after opening the gate at four o'clock in the morning, which is exactly the meaning of firecrackers to eliminate the old year and also indicates the beginning of a new year. Speaking of "burning string guns", it can be traced back to the legend of "burning bamboo to exorcise evil spirits". There is a history: Li Miao lived in the mountains, and his neighbor Zhongsou was jealous of the smell of mountains. He ordered the bamboo to be thrown into the fire in the court on New Year's Eve, and the bamboo was heated and exploded in the fire, giving out a "beep! Peep! Bang! Hey! " The noise, stealth is a surprise, and it will be safe at night. Later generations mistakenly thought that firecrackers can exorcise evil spirits, and the legacy has been passed down to this day.

the custom of fasting on the first day of junior high school is closely related to religion. In Hakka areas, there are many Buddhist beliefs among Xiao people, but many of them are monks. Even if they are not believers, they are also influenced by Buddhism and Taoism. When they spread to Xi Zhi, they formed a local custom. On the first day of the first lunar month, people in charge of the family wash their mouths and wash their faces devoutly, pay homage to the gods and ancestors in earnest, and worship the whole family for the first meal. On the second day of the lunar new year, people call it "opening the new year". At this time, killing chickens and ducks again is a "opening the new year's meal" before dawn.

"poor man's day in the third grade". On the third day of the first month, all the firecrackers, scraps of paper or other rubbish accumulated at home and outside the door are cleaned, which is commonly known as "sending the poor". On this day, I neither go out as a guest nor welcome my family. This custom is out of fashion now.

"Back to my mother's house on the fourth day". After more than a month of intense activities from December to the third day of the first lunar month, housewives have a little leisure until the fourth day, and go back to their parents' homes (transfer to other families) with gifts for a few days, and then return home at the latest on the sixth day. Because of ancient customs, it is called "seven don't go out, eight don't go back." If he doesn't come back on the sixth day, he will stay until the ninth day. If he doesn't come back on the ninth day, he will stay until the eleventh. Because the local people call the 1th day "Xiaotian Wear", it is not conducive to going out.

on the seventh day of the first month, you will eat seven kinds of vegetables and teas. "The seventh day of the first month is human day", as the name implies, human day is a person's birthday. It is said that at the beginning of the world, everything breeds. Chickens are born one day, dogs are born two days, pigs are born three days, sheep are born four days, cows are born five days, horses are born six days, people are born seven days, and valleys are born eight days, so the seventh day is human day, which is the most spiritual day in the birth of all things. Luhe people will cook "seven kinds of tea" as the main food on this morning. "Seven kinds of dishes" are garlic, kale, peas, maizi, wormwood, fennel, mint and so on. Those with richer families are fried with shrimp, squid and mushrooms, and then put good young tea (green tea), sesame seeds and peanuts into a ceramic earthenware bowl to make tea. Seven kinds of tea are soaked in tea, or rice is added, or fried rice flower is added, which is good for everyone. This kind of tea is mellow and delicious, but also has the functions of clearing away heat and dispelling cold, expelling evil spirits and strengthening the body resistance, refreshing the heart, and is a unique folk food handed down from generation to generation by Hakka people in China.

Hakka tea smashing has a long history, which will be introduced in another chapter.

On the 13th day of the first month, people welcome God and make ding wine.

The rural custom on the 13th day of the first month is called "Lights on Day". What is the source to be tested? This day is to greet God and make ding wine.

To greet the gods means to carry the "Lord" and "Emperor" from the mountain temple back to the village in a sedan chair and put them in a tent house that has been set up in advance. This house is called a "light shed". Red couplets are posted at the door of the lamp shed, most of which are words of praise for Geely.

On the day of greeting God, just before dawn, people gathered in front of the light shed to prepare for greeting God. Every host brought incense and lanterns, and lined up in order. The leader is in charge of greeting God. He carries a "reed" and headlights, followed by people who beat the spear (called three targets in other places), followed by dozens or even dozens of banners, people who lift the sedan chair and play gongs and drums, and finally the people who attend the greeting. After three thumps, the team set off in a mighty way. Along the way, guns were rumbling, gongs and drums were loud, flags were flying, and fire was shining and lively. Welcome God to the front of the lamp shed. Dozens of tables of the Eight Immortals are filled with sacrifices, which are very rich. After the worship, the welcome to God is over. At noon, puppets or Chinese operas were performed on the stage in front of the lamp shed, and villagers from Bali in four townships gathered here to watch the performance with great interest.

In the afternoon, it is customary that those who marry their wives and have boys last year must make ding wine in the lamp shed, which is to add to the happiness. Now this custom is only popular in some villages and towns.

Lantern Festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first month. The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is Shangyuan Festival, which is called Lantern Festival, commonly known as "the first half of the first month". On this day, the food of rural and urban residents in Luhe is mainly "cabbage-wrapped rice". Early in the morning, housewives have to start preparing rice dishes. Generally, people use fresh garlic stalks mashed and diced tofu mixed with seasoning as stuffing, while rice flour is used to mix with appropriate water and cook with fire, which is called "cooking blank". Finally, the housewife invited her neighbors to wrap them up. The cooked uncooked rice is reversed and then steamed in the pot. The refreshing and delicious aroma of the "vegetable bag rice reverse" came out. This rice is not tired of eating more, and the more you eat, the more you want to eat. There is a local saying, "I'm not afraid that my daughter-in-law will do it for a day without a twist of her mouth." Luhe, an authentic snack, is famous far and wide, and people who come to Luhe want to taste it for themselves. More overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived overseas for a long time have to eat enough when they return to their hometowns.

on the 15th day of the first month, according to past customs, farmers must do three things: first, cut a thick green bamboo tail in the bamboo forest and put it on the roost; Second, pick the four largest ears of wheat in the wheat field and insert them on both sides above the gate. What they have done is that the farmers pray for "good weather, abundant crops and prosperous livestock" in the New Year.

At night, men and women, old and young, take advantage of the moonlight to watch lanterns and have Lantern Festival in the light shed that has already been set up. Usually, lanterns are varied and colorful. It combines artistry, knowledge, interest and nationality, and is well received by the masses. Such as the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon, Shuanglong Play Pearl, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Journey to the West, Mystery Lantern, Lantern Festival and so on. It's really that the light shed is full of music, people are buzzing all night, and the fire tree is blooming all night.

In Luhe County, people can taste pit snails, a delicious food produced in a deep mountain stream, in restaurants and food stalls in both county towns and villages.

Pit snail, also called stone snail by local people, is a famous specialty in Luhe mountain area. Its shell is hard, its color is dark, its figure is slightly longer and its abdomen is developed. Living in a sunny and clean mountain stream, it lies in the daytime and comes out at night. Usually, it is mostly adsorbed on stones or pebbles in the water. It has amphibious skills and feeds on stone microorganisms, small algae and mosses aquatic plants.

Pit snail is a delicious food with rich nutrition. Its meat is crisp, delicious, rich in nutrients such as protein and glucoside, and it has neither muddy taste nor bitter taste. It is a popular mountain specialty, so it has become delicious on the table.

It is better to eat stone snails with the size of fingers, and there are many ways to eat pit snails. The best way to eat it is to fry it fresh. Usually, the pit snail is soaked in clear water for a day or so to drain the dirt, then the snail tail is clamped off, the snail body is washed, and ginger, garlic, pepper and so on are put into the oil pan to stir-fry with strong fire, and then some white wine and mint are added to stew it for a while, so that it can be eaten. Potting soup with pit snails can also be accompanied by ribs and a small amount of pickled vegetables, which will taste delicious and refreshing. You can also steam the pit snails and pick out the snail meat, which can be used for cooking soup and eating. If the snail with clean body is mixed with Rabdosia pratensis to make soup with slow fire, it will have another flavor. Not only can you taste the delicious soup with unique flavor, but it also has the effects of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, removing dampness and removing heat.

In China's extensive and exquisite altar tea art, "Hakka tea smashing" can be said to be a unique flower. It sees wonders with simplicity and wonders with health care. For thousands of years, it has spread among the people and is famous at home and abroad. If you are a guest in Hakka, the first thing that the enthusiastic host will entertain you is Hakka tea. When the host cheerfully offers a cup (bowl) of fragrant tea, he will chat with you slowly, so that you can slowly taste the tea. The entrance of the tea is sweet and delicious, with a refreshing fragrance. After a few more sips, it seeps into the heart and spleen, which is very enjoyable. When the host sees that you drink comfortably, he will add a spoonful for you, and you will feel satisfied and happy.

Tea-smashing is unique, but Hakka people are skilled in tea-smashing kung fu, especially Hakka women, and everyone is an expert in tea-smashing. Every Hakka family has a set of tea-smashing tools-smashing and smashing sticks. Most of the rolling sticks are made of pottery, with a diameter of about 1.5 feet. The inner wall is engraved with exquisite fine lines, and the shape is beautiful. The rolling stick is about 2 feet long and is made of the trunk of the first-class rolling tree or camellia oleifera. When smashing tea, first of all, the excellent tea leaves, such as young and old tea, lotus plumule tea, etc., with fried sesame seeds, peanuts and other ingredients are put into the grinding bowl, and the rolling stick is held in hand, and it is rotated rhythmically. Beat it until the tea material in the village is ground into powder, then add a little (proper amount) of salt and pour it into boiling water to make a cup (bowl) of delicious tea. When a cup (bowl) of tea is served in front of you, you will feel a fragrant smell. When you take the first sip, you will feel that your mouth is full of saliva, and the fragrance will remain in your teeth. After another sip, you will feel refreshed and refreshed, and you will enjoy it slowly. There are many preparation methods and uses of tea, and different ingredients have different uses. For example, adding a little pepper particles (or pepper powder) to the ground tea will have the effect of warming the middle and dispelling cold. For the elderly who are weak in stomach cold and afraid of frequent urination at cold nights, they can wake up their stomachs to keep out the cold after drinking for several times, and they will be refreshed. Long-term drinking can prolong life. There are also fried rice seed tea and fried rice tea, etc. The preparation method is simple. Just stir-fry vegetables, spare rice and peanuts, grind them with tea, add less salt, brew them into tea, and eat them with rice, which is not only sweet and delicious, but also quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger.

With the progress of the times, the ingredients of Hakka tea are getting more and more advanced. In addition to selecting the best main raw materials such as tea, peanuts and sesame seeds, modern tea-making can also add different ingredients according to different seasons and needs. take for example