Mud activities in Zhijiang
2023-06-25 19:06:00
By Chen Si, Yichang International Communication Studio
The 2023 Nicangzi Cultural Festival was held yesterday in Shigangqiao Village of Dongshi Town, Zhijiang, Yichang. More than 100 tourists and local villagers came together to experience the traditional farming culture of Zhijiang.
Nicangzi, literally meaning “smearing mud onto barns,” is a tradition that has been passed down in Zhijiang for nearly 1,000 years. It is an intangible cultural heritage popular in rice-producing areas of China.
In the old days, landowners would hire farmers to plant rice seedlings, after the planting was finished, the hires would smear mud on the landowners to wish them a bountiful harvest.
Nowadays, when planting rice seedlings, people regardless of sex and age will throw mud at each other until they all become "mud people,” showing the joy of planting and wishes for a good harvest.
With the development of agricultural technologies, this folk tradition has become a unique sight among farmers in the Three Gorges area.
The 2023 Nicangzi Cultural Festival aims to inherit traditional farming culture and is one of the many activities to cool off in the summer.
During the event, participants sing rice planting songs and throw the mud while music and drums are played alongside the fields. The scene replicates farming stories from tradition.
Other games are also popular during the event, such as running and catching fish with your hands in the paddy fields. Though the rules are simple, everyone enjoys themselves, despite being covered in mud.
Photo by Chen Huangkui
The 2023 Nicangzi Cultural Festival was held yesterday in Shigangqiao Village of Dongshi Town, Zhijiang, Yichang. More than 100 tourists and local villagers came together to experience the traditional farming culture of Zhijiang.
Nicangzi, literally meaning “smearing mud onto barns,” is a tradition that has been passed down in Zhijiang for nearly 1,000 years. It is an intangible cultural heritage popular in rice-producing areas of China.
In the old days, landowners would hire farmers to plant rice seedlings, after the planting was finished, the hires would smear mud on the landowners to wish them a bountiful harvest.
Nowadays, when planting rice seedlings, people regardless of sex and age will throw mud at each other until they all become "mud people,” showing the joy of planting and wishes for a good harvest.
With the development of agricultural technologies, this folk tradition has become a unique sight among farmers in the Three Gorges area.
The 2023 Nicangzi Cultural Festival aims to inherit traditional farming culture and is one of the many activities to cool off in the summer.
During the event, participants sing rice planting songs and throw the mud while music and drums are played alongside the fields. The scene replicates farming stories from tradition.
Other games are also popular during the event, such as running and catching fish with your hands in the paddy fields. Though the rules are simple, everyone enjoys themselves, despite being covered in mud.
Photo by Chen Huangkui
