The beauty of Chinese spiritual culture and traditional culture
The God of Travel Festival (游神), also known as the God of Greetings (迎神) or the God of the Elephant's Journey (神像出巡), is a traditional folk cultural activity with strong religious and spiritual significance, held in many localities across China. It is an important event in the spiritual life of the people, especially in rural areas and communities with long traditions.
This is a cultural event with strong influences of folk beliefs and Taoism, often held at the beginning of the year in many localities across China, especially in the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang. The festival is not only an occasion for people to express their respect and gratitude to the gods, but also an opportunity for them to pray for good things in the new year, ward off evil spirits and bring a peaceful and prosperous year.
"Du Than" also known as "Thanh Cross Tuan Du" is a festival solemnly held every year on the occasion of the New Year in Fujian province, China.
The Du Shen Festival is not only a religious ceremony but also an important cultural event, deeply reflecting the traditional values and community spirit of the Chinese people. During this festival, people from all over gather at temples to participate in religious activities, pray and burn incense.
The deep origin of the Du Than Festival comes from the worship of guardian gods in the community. These are usually gods who play an important role in protecting crops, bringing a prosperous life to villagers, or gods who have great merit in protecting human health, driving away diseases and evil spirits. This belief has a history of hundreds of years, going through many ups and downs of time, and has become one of the unique features of Chinese spiritual culture.
The Du Than Festival in China attracts a large number of people to participate in the ritual of carrying the holy palanquin, lion dance, and dragon dance.
The most prominent and important highlight of the Du Than Festival is the procession of the holy palanquin. This is a solemn and meaningful activity, expressing the people's respect for the guardian gods. The statues of the gods, exquisitely crafted and elaborately decorated, are solemnly placed on brilliant and splendid palanquins. These palanquins will then be carried through the main streets, carrying the prayers and wishes of the people.
The procession is the highlight of this festival.
The procession usually consists of hundreds of people, from those carrying the palanquin, burning incense, to performing groups such as lion dance, dragon dance and martial arts. The palanquin bearers are healthy young men, carefully selected. They must not only be in good health but also have a high sense of respect and responsibility.
Incense burners are usually elderly people with prestige in the community. Their duty is to burn incense and pray to the gods, praying for peace and luck for everyone.
Chinese people still keep special traditions in this festival.
Performing arts groups such as lion dance, dragon dance and martial arts are indispensable components of the procession. These performances are not only entertaining but also have deep spiritual meaning. Lion dance, dragon dance symbolizes strength and luck, has the effect of driving away evil spirits and bringing good things. Martial arts demonstrate the martial spirit and strength of human beings, and is also a way to train health and will.
The procession passed through the main streets, attracting the attention of many people. Everyone poured into the streets to watch and participate in the festival. Along both sides of the street where the holy procession passed, people from old to young, from men to women, gathered to welcome the gods. They sincerely burned incense, prepared offerings and clasped their hands in prayer, hoping to receive protection and blessings from the gods, wishing for a peaceful, happy and prosperous new year. The incense smoke mixed with the solemn atmosphere, creating a colorful spiritual picture.
The festival originates from the worship of guardian gods in the community.
During the procession, people often set off firecrackers, beat drums and gongs to ward off evil spirits and pray for peace and luck. The sound of firecrackers, the sound of drums and gongs, along with the applause and cheers of the crowd, creates a bustling and jubilant atmosphere.
They set off firecrackers and beat drums and gongs to ward off evil spirits and pray for peace and good luck. The sound of firecrackers exploding, the sound of drums and gongs, along with the applause and cheers of the crowd, created a bustling, jubilant atmosphere.
People send their wishes and aspirations for a prosperous and peaceful year through traditional rituals.
Spectacular art performances are also an indispensable part of the festival. Lion and dragon dance teams with graceful and powerful movements, performing beautiful martial arts, attract the attention of a large audience. These performances are not only entertaining but also have deep spiritual meaning, demonstrating the strength and courage of human beings.
In particular, in some localities, the ritual of walking on hot coals is also held within the framework of the festival. This is a challenging ritual, requiring courage and absolute faith. Participants in this ritual must walk barefoot on the burning hot coals, expressing their faith and respect for the gods. This ritual not only creates excitement and admiration for the gods but is also a symbol of human courage and indomitable will.
Preserving a thousand-year-old culture
Through the artistic and ritual activities held during the festival, such as lion dance, dragon dance, opera, martial arts performance, street parade, Du Than Festival becomes a strong bridge between generations. It helps to preserve and pass on to the next generation the beauty of traditional culture, good moral values, martial spirit, courage, gratitude and respect for the gods, who have protected and sheltered the community.
The festival also attracts many international tourists who want to learn about Chinese culture and experience the unique festival atmosphere.
The Du Than Festival is not only an occasion for people to have fun and relax together, but also an opportunity for each individual to immerse themselves in the traditional cultural space, feeling the connection between the individual and the community, between the past and the present. It helps each person better understand the origin, history and culture of their nation, thereby raising their sense of responsibility in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
In the context of modern society, when the pace of life is increasingly fast and stressful, the Du Than Festival becomes more meaningful than ever. It is like a cool breeze blowing into the soul of each person, helping them regain peace and serenity in their souls, while at the same time arousing pride in the traditional cultural values of their homeland and country.
This is also an opportunity for localities to promote tourism, boost the economy and affirm their unique cultural identity.
The Du Shen Festival is not only a local cultural event but also an important part of China's rich and diverse cultural picture. It contributes to enriching the spiritual life of the people and is an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists who want to learn about China's traditional culture.
In today's era, the Du Than Festival still retains its core values, but at the same time has also been improved to suit modern life.
The Du Than Festival is a testament to the strong vitality of traditional culture in modern society. It shows that, no matter how much time passes, good cultural values are always cherished and preserved in the hearts of every citizen.
