Thousands of empty alleys to pick up the imperial aunt: the legend and nostalgia of Quang Nam
Introduction: The grand scene of thousands of empty alleys
Quang Nam in May is sunny and full of flowers. On this day, the whole county seemed to be attracted by a mysterious force, and thousands of people were empty, just to welcome the legendary "imperial aunt".
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Video 1 comes from the Internet
People dressed in colorful ethnic costumes formed a long procession, like a cheerful dragon, shuttling through the streets and alleys of the ancient city. At the end of the procession, you can always see the 93-year-old grandmother, who has become the symbol of this event every year.
Revealed: The story of the county lord of Anhua, the imperial aunt
Speaking of this "imperial aunt", there are really endless stories. In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and the small court of the Southern Ming Dynasty was crumbling under the pursuit of the Qing army. And this county lord of Anhua is the sister of Emperor Yongli of the Southern Ming Dynasty, a princess with a prominent background but ill-fated fate.
That year, the Qing army marched south, and the Southern Ming court was in danger. The county lord of Anhua, a girl who was only sixteen years old, did not want to be a person who had lost his country, let alone stay as a prisoner. She resolutely decided to flee with her brother Emperor Yongli to find a glimmer of life.
However, there are unforeseen circumstances in the sky, and people have good and bad luck. On the way to escape, the county lord of Anhua unfortunately fell seriously ill and could not continue to move forward. For the sake of the overall situation, her brother Yongli had to place her in a Zhuang farmer's house in Guangnan to recuperate.
Strange fate: the deep friendship between the imperial aunt and Zhuangxiang
In the days of Zhuangxiang, the county lord of Anhua felt unprecedented warmth and care. The villagers of the Zhuang nationality not only invited a doctor for her, but also took care of her like their own daughter. She gradually adapted to life here, and became close to the girls and daughters-in-law of the Zhuang nationality like sisters, working and living together.
Here, she learned to carry firewood and grass, plant seedlings and cut grain, grow cotton and spin yarn and other farm work. At the same time, she also passed on her knowledge and culture to the girls of the Zhuang ethnic group. She taught them to read, write, tailor, embroider, and tell stories...... Her arrival has brought endless joy and hope to this remote mountain village.
However, the good times were short-lived. As time passed, the county lord of Anhua began to miss his family and homeland. She remembered the whereabouts of her brother Emperor Yongli, and the tragic experience of her exile and uncertain future. She was depressed and fell ill again. Despite the best efforts of the old Zhuang doctor to save her, he was unable to save her life in the end.
Inheritance: the folk custom of receiving the imperial aunt
After the death of the county lord of Anhua, the villagers of Zhuangxiang decided to bury her body next to the horseshoe well in order to commemorate her. In order to commemorate this princess who came from afar, they also built a temple in front of the tomb and made a statue of her for people to admire.
From then on, every year on the first tiger day (Yin Day) in the fourth month of the lunar calendar, that is, the death day of the imperial aunt, the villagers of Taipingzhai will carry the empty sedan chair to the horseshoe well to welcome the soul of the imperial aunt. This is the custom of "receiving the imperial aunt" that has been passed down in the Quang Nam area to this day.
Grand occasion: the ceremony of receiving the imperial aunt in the empty alley
Nowadays, "picking up the imperial aunt" has become one of the most distinctive folk activities in Quang Nam. Every now and then, the entire county is plunged into a sea of joy. The grand scene of thousands of empty alleys is breathtaking.
On this day, people put on their most beautiful clothes and the finest jewelry and form a long procession to go to the horseshoe well. The procession included not only the elderly, children, young men and women, but also tourists and photographers from far and wide. They took out their mobile phones and cameras to record this rare grand occasion.
In front of the Huanggu Temple, people will hold a solemn ceremony to receive the soul. Taoist priests would recite scriptures and burn incense to pray for blessings; Villagers will offer flowers, fruits and other offerings to show their respect. Then, people will carry an empty sedan chair to the horseshoe well to greet the soul of the imperial aunt. The sedan chair swayed in the air, as if the imperial aunt had really returned to the world.
Nostalgia and inheritance
"Picking up the Huanggu" is not only a simple folk activity, but also the deep attachment and love of the people of Quang Nam to their hometown and history.
Through this activity, people can not only relive that glorious history, but also remember the heroes who made great sacrifices for the country and the nation; You can also feel the spirit of the people in your hometown uniting as one and working hard for a better life.
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Video 2 comes from the Internet
Let's look forward to the next day of "picking up the imperial aunt"! Let us witness this folk custom, which has been inherited for 372 years, shine more brilliantly in the new era!