Silkworm flower custom

Hangjia Lake is rich in silk, and sericulture is the main industry of farmers in this area. Wuzhen is located in the hinterland of Hangjia Lake, and sericulture industry accounts for a large proportion. The quality of silkworm flowers is directly related to farmers' income and the life this year. For important things, people will set up some taboos, and many living habits will change around it, and even entertainment cannot be separated from it. Over time, a series of customs and habits about silkworm flowers have been formed in Wuzhen.

[Praise silkworm flower]

Every spring, on the eve of sericulture, there are often some folk artists carrying bamboo baskets with a non-toxic yellow python in them, who come to the door of the silkworm farmer and sing, "The green dragon is here, and the silkworm flowers are good. Last year, we came here, and to this day, look at the yellow python, and the silkworm flowers will get double harvests surely." While singing, the folk artist catches the yellow python and puts it in the silkworm farmer’s hall, let it wander, and then catch it back in the basket after singing. Silkworm farmers thank him with silk floss or rice. This is called "praising silkworm flowers", which can lead to a good harvest of silkworm flowers.

[Silkworm flower cotton pocket]

In the old days, when a child was born in a silkworm farmer, it was customary to make cotton-padded clothes for the child with silkworm cotton pockets. Silkworm cotton pocket has its story. After the death of the elderly in the family, the younger generation often uses several cotton pockets, which are torn loose by the husband and wife and covered on the deceased layer by layer, leaving one or two cotton pockets at last. Legend has it that children can be healthy and disease-free if they wear cotton-padded clothes made of this kind of silkworm cotton pocket.

【 Looking at the hilltop 】

When the baby silkworm begins to climb the grass dragon to make cocoons (which silkworm farmers call "going up the hill") after four sleeps, the silkworm farmer whose daughter is newly married must prepare gifts such as pork, yellow croaker, soft cakes, and loquats to visit their daughters' homes to see the situation of the baby silkworms climbing the hill, commonly known as "looking at the hilltop".

Looking at the hilltop originated from an episode. A silkworm farmer recently married a daughter-in-law who couldn't raise silkworms, but the daughter-in-law was clever and bred them while learning, and actually bred the silkworms well and sent them safely to the hill. At this time, the silkworm farmer’s in-laws came to visit his daughter. He had never raised silkworms and had never seen their appearance, so he became curious and quietly came to the silkworm house. He forgot to close the window when he came out. When the silkworm farmer came back, he saw that the baby silkworm to be blown and he was worried that this year's silkworm flowers would be hopeless. Unexpectedly, when the silkworm farmer opened the silkworm house, he saw snow-white cocoons all over the hill, and the harvest was better than that of any family in the same village. The villagers concluded that his silkworm flowers were so good because his in-laws came to visit. So there was the custom of "looking at the hilltop".

[Wear silkworm flowers]

During the Qingming Festival every year, a temple fair to welcome silkworm flowers is held in the silkworm township. At these silkworm flowers fairs for welcoming silkworms, silkworm-raising women wear silkworms flowers made of paper or silk and walk around the temple fair to pray for bringing back silkworms' happiness. This is called wearing silkworm flowers. At first, everyone just came to burn incense, and joined in the fun. Later, it gradually developed into a temple fair. At that time, vendors gathered, dramas are shown and juggling were performed, which was also called wearing silkworm flowers. This custom continues to this day. When wearing silkworm flowers, some collisions between young men and women are allowed. Now, some young people use this to find the right person, and the meaning of "wearing" is expanded.

[Boxing Boat and Boat Boxing]

The boxing boat was moored on the surface of the water for years. In the sound of drums and gongs, there would be martial artists on board, dressed in training clothes, holding swords and halberds. The battle was very fierce. This is the traditional folk program in Wuzhen - boxing boat.

Boxing boat, also known as boat boxing, is said to have started in the Southern Song Dynasty and is very popular in Taihu Lake Basin. In the old days, Wuzhen water system was developed, while bandits in Taihu Lake prevalent, and the government was often at a loss to prevent bandits and was unable to guarantee local peace. Therefore, boat people and fishermen had to bring their own civilian blades, hire martial artists and practice martial arts openly, so as to not only practice martial arts and strengthen their health, but also resist lake bandits. Gradually the boxing boat was developed. Nowadays, the boxing boat has no longer effect in practicing martial arts to prevent bandits, but practicing martial arts and fitness on the boat has been passed down as a traditional activity.

The boxing boat in Wuzhen has been handed down for five generations, and the practiced martial arts are from Shaolin Northern School. There are more than 50 sets of boxing modes, such as Shaolin Boxing and Shaolin Stick Bench Boxing. Boxers wield guns and sticks here every day to promote the purpose of "meeting friends with martial arts and strengthening health", which sends a local martial arts feast to visitors from all directions visiting Wuzhen.

The Boxing boat has been moored on the water all the year round. In the sound of gongs and drums, there will be martial Martial art masters on board wearing training clothes, holding weapons, and fighting with each other. This is Wuzhen’s traditional folk program- Boxing Boat.

Boxing boat, also known as Boat Boxing, is said to have been popular in the Taihu Lake Reign since the Southern Song Dynasty. In the old days, Wuzhen water system was developed, and there were many robbers in Taihu Lake. The government was too weak to eliminate robbers and could not guarantee the safety of local people. Therefore, boatmen and fishermen arm themselves with weapons, employ martial art masters and practice martial arts publicly. It is conducive to strengthening themselves, and guarding against Lake robbers. Gradually, it was developed into boxing boat. Today, the martial art performance boat has no utility of repelling robbers, but practicing martial art on the boat as a traditional activity is still retained till now.

Wuzhen's boxing boat have been handed down for five generations. The source of Wuzhen's martial art is Shaolin North School. There are more than 50 routines such as Shaolin Boxing, Shaolin Stick Bench Boxing and so on. Boxers perform with various weapons on the boat every day to promote the purpose of "meeting friends with martial art and strengthening the body". They also provide a local martial art feast for tourists from all directions in Wuzhen.

【High pole boat】

High pole boat is a form of entertainment related to the customs of Silkworm Township, which is a unique local folk sports activity. A huge stone mortar was placed in the center of the large ship moored on the river, with a huge bamboo inserted on it. There are four short bamboo poles fixed from four directions below the bamboo, and several strong men assist in controlling the main pole during the performance. When the performer climbs onto the top of the bamboo pole, the bamboo bends into a 90 degree arc and sways under the influence of human gravity, causing the viewer's heart to tremble. The performers of high pole boats usually wear white clothing, symbolizing the image of baby silkworms. The performances include Golden Monkey Watching the Moon, Dove Turning Over, Inverted Dragonfly, Single Arm Hanging, etc., which are breathtaking and exciting.

Previously, boxing boat and high pole boat performances were generally held during the slack season around the Qingming Festival. Now, in order to allow tourists to experience the customs of Jiangnan, they can see the wonderful performance of high polt successors every day on the city river in East Gate Scenic area if climate conditions permit.