Ten days before the annual sacrifice to the sea, fishermen's wives in Tian Heng Town are busy steaming steamed buns, each weighing about three or four kilograms, with various shapes such as peaches, worms and buckets. Shoutao dough sculpture is decorated with double lion hydrangeas, dragons and phoenixes, magpies announcing spring and other patterns; The sacred worm looks like a dragon, circling around the lotus seat many times, which means that the financial resources are rolling; The shape of the barrel is like an old barrel filled with grain, and a small holy bug is made at the mouth of the barrel, indicating that there is grain and money, and there is still more than one year. After being decorated with edible colors, these dough sculptures become works of art with folk characteristics.
Near the day of offering sacrifices to the sea, men are busy choosing three kinds of animals. Big black boar is the best pig. Shaving after slaughter, leaving only a pinch of black hair on the pig's neck, and then tying it up with red silk to decorate the pig's head and neck. Chickens should choose red-haired cocks, and fish should use sea bass. The captains should ask the venerable old people in the village to write "Peaceful Wen Shu" on yellow paper. When writing a peace article, you should point out an incense burner and give it to the five sacrificial gods, namely, the Dragon King, the Poseidon (the Queen of Heaven), the God of Wealth, the Fairy and the Guanyin Bodhisattva, in order to pray for a safe harvest. Couplets should be written by fishermen with good calligraphy and literary talent in the village.
The day before the sacrifice to the sea, fishermen cleaned the Longwang Temple, hung red lanterns, put incense burners, put up sacrificial ceremonies, put up couplets and hung red. At the same time, there is a pine and cypress dragon gate tied to the beach in front of Longwang Temple, with plaques, lanterns and red couplets hanging on it. Ship owners are busy driving fishing boats with colorful flags to Wanqian Village, with their bows facing the sea, arranging fishing gear and nets neatly, and then anchoring and positioning, waiting for the formal ceremony of offering sacrifices to the sea the next day.
On the day of the sea sacrifice ceremony, fishermen began to repent on the beach in front of Longwang Temple by boat. Bundles of "standing tassels" several meters high are tied with bamboo poles and stand in the wind. The table is filled with sacred insects, peaches, fish, sweets and snacks carved from dough. On the red painted low table in front of the table, a black-haired boar heads forward and a red rooster is full of energy. The fishermen sorted out the yellow paper to be burned, set up incense burners and lifted thousands of red firecrackers into the air.
When the auspicious moment arrived, the priest announced the official start of the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the sea. At that time, firecrackers exploded, and people began to burn incense paper and light the written "Taiping Wen Shu" to kowtow. With the sound of firecrackers, the boatmen began to throw candy into the air. There is a saying that "whoever picks up more candy that year will be lucky". The local fishermen who believe in firecrackers will prosper and make a fortune this year. So most of them are tens of millions of firecrackers, and the boatman sets off thousands of firecrackers at the same time. The scene is very spectacular. Since the Qing Dynasty, local people in Tian Heng have regarded Peking Opera as the main type of drama, and invited the troupe to sing for three days when offering sacrifices to the sea.
After the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the sea, fishermen are used to dining on the boat, and guests are welcome to eat fish, meat and drink together. The more people come, the better, which means the more blessings you receive. Nowadays, most people hold banquets at home to entertain relatives and friends who come to attend the ceremony, and sacrifices become the main food for dinner. On the second day after the sacrifice to the sea, the fishermen went out to sea to start fishing for a year.
Tian Heng Sea Festival is an integral part of China folk culture, which has strong academic research value, cultural value and social influence value. Its origin, continuation and development process are of great reference value to the study of human progress, living environment, cultural and economic composition and development of coastal areas in China history. It is a living fossil reflecting the ancient coastal human culture, and has great anthropological and folklore research value.
The folk custom of offering sacrifices to the sea in Tian Heng embodies the idea of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and bears the brand of humanization and human progress. It has become a platform for cultural exchanges at home and abroad and for strengthening international marine culture, especially in the coastal countries of Southeast Asia.
Tian Heng's sacrifice to the sea has been handed down from generation to generation in the local area, with far-reaching influence, attracting more than 300,000 tourists from surrounding areas and at home and abroad every year. Various media and cultural products have effectively publicized the regional image, greatly enhanced the influence of the lifestyle of coastal fishermen on the public, and reminded people that China has not only khaki inland civilization, but also blue marine culture.
China Qingdao Ocean Festival, as an important festival brand in Qingdao, is the only festival with the theme of ocean in China today. Founded in 1999, it is held every July. Relying on the beautiful marine scenery, Ocean Festival gives full play to Qingdao's advantages as "China Marine Science and Technology City" and brings together the essence of modern festivals. The activities are rich in content, covering dozens of activities such as the opening ceremony, marine science and technology, marine sports, marine culture, marine tourism, marine cuisine and closing ceremony. It has become a beautiful landscape in Qingdao in July.
The Ocean Festival sponsored by the State Oceanic Administration and the Qingdao Municipal People's Government has been held for ten times. The first Ocean Festival and the second Ocean Festival are hosted by Qingdao Tourism Bureau, Cultural Bureau, Science and Technology Bureau, Science and Technology Commission, Government Policy Research Office, Major Festival Office, Garden Bureau and other government departments. Since the third Ocean Festival, it has been undertaken by the Shinan District People's Government of Qingdao.
Since its inception, Qingdao Ocean Festival has made unremitting efforts in advocating scientific and technological innovation, developing marine economy, and carrying out international friendly cooperation with the theme of "embracing the ocean century and creating blue glory" and the goal of protecting the ocean, rationally developing and utilizing marine resources and realizing the sustainable development of human economy and society.
Facing the 2 1 century, the protection, utilization and development of marine resources is a major issue for sustainable development. The Ocean Festival is the first of its kind in China. The establishment of the Ocean Festival reflects China's emphasis on the sustainable development of the ocean and its attitude towards the ocean century. The establishment of the Ocean Festival will realize the organic integration of ocean and tourism and promote the rapid development of marine tourism.
The main activities of the first Qingdao Ocean Festival are designed as 23 key projects in eight sections: opening ceremony, marine culture and entertainment, marine science and technology, marine sports, marine catering, marine tourism, seaport and city, and closing ceremony.
Based on the concept of "government-led, social participation, market operation and frugality", the planning and undertaking of major activities of the Ocean Festival is open to the public and enterprises participate.