The grass dragon dance, a local custom in Nan'ao in Longgang
District, was recently placed on a list of 78 intangible cultural
heritage programs by the Guangdong government.
The dance, with more than 300 years of history, will be
performed in Nan'an on Saturday to mark the first national cultural
heritage day, which falls on the second Saturday in June. Residents
of Nan'ao are busy preparing a grass dragon for the
event.
Legend has it that Mazu, the goddess of the sea, told people in
Nan'ao 300 years ago that waving a dragon made by grass in the
first night of the lunar year would ensure favorable weather for
harvesting. Since then, the fishermen of Nan'ao have been making
grass into the shape of a dragon at the beginning of every lunar
year. While dancing with the grass dragon, they also set off
fireworks.
The grass dragon is then ignited and burnt to ashes to ensure a
calm sea and a good harvest of fish and shrimps in the coming
year.
Guangdong cultural heritage resources range from herbal tea, art
and drama to music and sports.
(Shenzhen Daily June 6, 2006)
