Nu Wa Festival in Shexian County, as its name implies, is a celebration held to celebrate Nu Wa, the ancestor of the Chinese nation. The event was held in Shexian County, Hebei Province. Although the birthplace of Nu Wa Empress has yet to be determined, Shexian County, Hebei Province is undoubtedly the first place to publicize Nu Wa Festival to the whole country. In May, 26, the Nuwa Festival in Shexian County was selected into the first batch of intangible cultural heritage list in China, and it was listed in the "China Festival Chronicle" of the Folk National Literature and Art Development Center of the Ministry of Culture.
Square in front of Nu Wa Palace in Shexian 1. The birthplace of Nu Wa Niangniang
Although Nu Wa Niangniang is a mythical figure, it does not affect the good wishes and beliefs of the Chinese nation to recognize her as the ancestor. About the native place of Nu Wa, we can find clues from the spread of Nu Wa belief in various places. Where did the well-known story of Nu Wa come from today? There are basically two sects, namely, the origin of the south and the origin of the north. If we understand the difference between them, we will basically understand the birthplace of Nuwa.
Scholars who believe in the origin of the South believe that the story of Nu Wa comes from the southwest ethnic minority areas, and among the southwest ethnic groups, the local civilization of Sichuan is the most brilliant. Scholars of this school believe that the portrayal of the images of Nu Wa and Fuxi is the best proof, because both of them are snake bodies, which is completely consistent with the impression that there are many snakes and insects in the south, so the belief of Nu Wa is the derivative of the worship of snakes and snake gods in the south.
Fuxi and Nu Wa's snake-tail intercourse in stone reliefs
Scholars who believe in the origin of the North believe that the story of Nu Wa comes from the Yellow River region, because in the traditional fairy tales in the south, the number of appearances of Nu Wa is very small. On the contrary, in the Yellow River area, some scholars have counted that there are 235 Nuwa stories circulating, accounting for 95% of all Nuwa stories. As for the Han nationality, the same surname is not complicated (consanguineous marriage with the same surname), this school of scholars explained that Nu Wa and Fuxi's brother and sister marriage was not seen at all before the Han Dynasty, and it was only in the Tang Dynasty that the two talents began to be connected. For the description of snake bodies such as Nu Wa, it is said that snakes are prolific in the south, but they can actually survive in the Yellow River basin in the north, because the climate in ancient north is the same as that in the south today. For example, elephants were produced in ancient Henan, let alone snakes.
The reason for the origin of the North is more sufficient, so it has gained more recognition. However, the Yellow River area in the north is a broad concept. In order to confirm the birthplace of Nuwa more specifically, the provinces in the Yellow River Basin have put forward the basis one after another, including Tianshui in Gansu, Pingli in Shaanxi, Jincheng in Shanxi and Zhoukou in Henan. These places all have Loi Wo Temple, Nuwa City and Nuwa Ruins, but these provinces have one shortcoming, that is, they have not been officially publicized to the whole country.
Loi Wo Temple, Pingli, Shaanxi II. Nuwa Palace in Shexian County, Hebei Province
There is a Zhonghuang Mountain under Shexian County, and there is a Nuwa Palace in the mountain. According to the research of He Li of Hebei University of Engineering, this palace was built in the Northern Qi Dynasty more than 145 years ago, and it has been repaired in successive dynasties. Today, it is the largest Nuwa Palace in Shexian County. Nu Wa Festival is a song and dance celebration in the Northern Qi Dynasty to celebrate the opening of Nu Wa Palace and to commemorate Nu Wa at the same time, and it has been passed down. Of course, these sacrifices are presided over by the three old and powerful people in the countryside, and they are prayers for the safety of one party.
Nuwa Palace
In ancient times, especially before the Song Dynasty, the government strictly controlled commercial activities, especially in cities, where free trade was not allowed, and traders had to buy and sell in fixed places. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the control of the government was gradually relaxed, and a grass market appeared. These vendors got rid of the geographical restrictions of the government and began to set up stalls in some crowded areas. As mentioned above, the Nuwa Palace in Shexian County has been renovated in the past dynasties, and there are many pilgrims. Celebrations are also held every year. Merchants seize the opportunity and start to set up stalls near the Nuwa Palace, forming a lively market, and business and celebrations are thus integrated. After the annual festival, there is a lively business gathering near Nuwa Palace, and people from all over the country will join in the fun, so that the reputation of Nuwa Festival is even greater.
Nuwa Square in Shexian County
The earliest official Nuwa Festival appeared in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, it was mentioned in the county annals that officials from Shun, Kang and Yong Dynasties would send speeches to the Nuwa Palace in March of the lunar calendar, and "men and women from far and near came in droves". After the founding of New China, the Nuwa Festival was terminated for various reasons. In September 23, the Hebei Tourism Bureau and the Cultural Relics Bureau jointly hosted the Nuwa Festival in the official name.