Yichang City celebrates Chu-style Lantern Festival
2023-02-07 14:02:57
By Chen Zai, Yichang International Communication Studio
For the Spring Festival, Yunji Road in Yichang City was decorated with more than 2,000 “zongzi” (sticky rice dumplings)-shaped lanterns. Hidden inside the lanterns, sachets of fragrance gave off a pleasant, light scent. On the outside of the lanterns were hand-painted flowers derived from the “Songs of Chu” (Chu ci), the earliest anthology of Chinese romantic poems. Many of the Chu songs were composed by Qu Yuan (339 – 278 BC).
Dingding cake stall
For the Spring Festival, Yunji Road in Yichang City was decorated with more than 2,000 “zongzi” (sticky rice dumplings)-shaped lanterns. Hidden inside the lanterns, sachets of fragrance gave off a pleasant, light scent. On the outside of the lanterns were hand-painted flowers derived from the “Songs of Chu” (Chu ci), the earliest anthology of Chinese romantic poems. Many of the Chu songs were composed by Qu Yuan (339 – 278 BC).
The "Chu Songs and Fragrance Sachets – Chu-style Lantern Festival" event took place on Yunji Road at 7 pm on February 4.
The multi-section event included a “Chu Song School”, a “Chu Flavor Market” and “Chu Lantern Riddle Guessing Games”. Night events included a Hanfu Parade, a Folklore Forum and a poetry recital game where people who fail to recite a poem correctly are obliged to drink alcohol. The event was inspired by Qu Yuan’s legacy.
Chu Song School:
Wan Shuangquan, chairman of the Xiling District Calligraphers Association, wrote Chu songs and gave the calligraphy away as gifts. Peng Hongwei, a professor from Three Gorges University, gave a lecture on Chu songs, helping people appreciate the beauty of Chinese classical literature. Kids recited Chu songs with their fresh young voices.
Chu Flavor Market:
Visitors were invited to wander through the Chu Flavor Market, where stalls – decorated with lanterns – sold old-style Dingding cakes and people were attired in Hanfu clothes.
Chu Lantern Riddle Guessing Games:
Lantern riddles were created based on the text of Chu songs. Prizes for those able to solve the riddles included lanterns with images of the iconic finless porpoise, coupons that could be exchanged for sweet glutinous “tang yuan” dumplings and lucky fragrance sachets.
Peng Hongwei, a professor from Three Gorges University, gives a lecture on the Chu songs
Wan Shuangquan, chairman of Xiling District Calligraphers Association, wields the brush
Hanfu parade along Yunji Road
Dingding cake stall
