Ningde's history dates back
to the Stamped Pottery Culture System along the southeastern coast of
China. As early as 10, 000 to 20,000 years ago during the Old Stone Age
there were human beings living and multiplying here. In the third year of
Taikang Period of Jin Dynasty (265-317AD), magistrate rule was established
here. And from the beginning to the 23rd year of Yuan Dynasty
(1206-1368AD) Funingzhou Administration was set up. And during the 12th
year of Yongzheng Period of Qing Dynasty, Ningde was promoted to Funingfu
Administration. During the 23rd year of the Republic of China (1912-1949)
Administration Supervision Zone was set up. After 1949 Fu'an Special
Administration Zone was established. In June 1971 the Zone was promoted to
Ningde Prefecture. In Mingdong there are many cultural and historic sites
and legends. According to the historical records the Huotong Mountains in
Jiao Cheng District is one of the holy places of Taoism and Buddhism. Some
legends go like there: A person named Shui Ren created fire and Emperor
Huangdi (4500 years ago) created (visited) the Huotong Mountains. It is
said that Yaodi Emperor (4500 years ago) conferred a title upon the Taimou
Mountains.100 years ago the first customs-Fuhai Customs was set up in
Mingdong, China. Some historical figures such as Zhuxi, Luyou, Fen Menlong,
Wen Tianxiang, Qi Jiguang once lived, worked and some even battled in
Ningde. Ningde nurtured the following famous persons: Xue Linzi, the first
successful candidate in the highest imperial exams in Fujian Province, in
the Tan Dynasty; Xie Ao---a patriotic poet in the Song Dynasty; Liu
Zhongzao---a patriotic general in the Ming Dynasty; Gan Guobao-a famous
brave general in Qing Dynasty; Lin Zhenghan-the first Esperantist; and
Yuan Ying-the first leader of the Buddhism Association of China, etc. The
folk arts in Mingdong are varied and colorful. Among them Bangtiaji
Parade, Lion Dance, and Paper Cutting are the most
characteristic. Bangtiaji Parade was a folk art performance originated
during the Qing Dynasty, popular in Mingdong areas. When performing,
made-up children holding stage property/props either sit or stand on the
parade vehicles on which there're fixed decorated steel or iron bars for
holding. The vehicles move along the streets with the company of music and
light reflection. The whole scene is beautiful and active. The Lion Dance,
popular in Huotong Town, Jiaocheng District, originated from the local
children toys. The Lion is made of colorful threads and is fixed on wooden
racks that connect the heads, bodies, tails, feet of the Lions with ropes.
The racks are set on some parade carts or vehicles moving along the
streets. The performers pull or shake the ropes while moving along with
the company of scenes and light. The Lion dance is divided into Female and
Male Lion Dance, and Female and Puppy Lion Dance. The number of performers
can be as few as 5 persons or as many as 10 persons. They are quick and
strong. They pull the lions and make them do different tricks, such as
scratching faces and playing with balls, sometimes jumping up and flying
over. The performance attracts lots of audience and receives thunderclaps.
Paper Cutting in Zhegrong County, Mingdong
is the most famous. The types of paper cutting are as followings: plan,
symmetrical, multifold, network, etc. The contents of paper cutting
include traditional flower patterns and words shapes, and mostly of daily
life objects. The paper cutting also adopts abstract and exaggerating
forms. Paper cutting art in Zherong is mainly practiced by women. There
appear some paper cutting folk artists with great attainments. Zherong
County, because of her paper cutting achievements, in year 2000 was named
by the National Culture Ministry "Home of Chinese Folk Arts".
Since the reform and opening up to the outside
world, Mingdong has experienced an unprecedented opportunity of cultural
development. The cultural agencies in Mingdong are getting completed. The
City Cultural Bureau has established 10 direct agencies dealing with
management of mass cultural activities, dramas, museums, cultural market
and performance and so on.
The Cultural Department tries their best to carry out
"Fragrant grass Plan" and "Countryside Cultural Facilities
Construction Projects". They actively set up libraries for farmers
and take great efforts to establish cultural teams so that the
professional cultural teams and personnel are becoming stronger and
influential. And the She minority people's culture is greatly publicized
and great efforts have been made to carry out large-scale cultural
activities. At the same time all kinds of cultural performances and
photographs, calligraphies, paintings have been exhibited and awarded all
over the city. Some social cultural activities also have been carried out
during some important festivals. The following dramas have been well
received: "Wolf Wonder in the Wuyishan Mountains", "People
living in the Mountains", "Children Troupe",
"Consciousness"， "Red Silk Shirts", " Candle
Light", "Blue Home Garden" and so on. A lot of music
dances, calligraphy and painting works have received awards frequently and
masterpieces are produced in great numbers. Children dances: "A Small
Boy on a Lotus", "Bamboo Ringing in the Valleys",
"Bamboo Clapping Trace Away Sparrows" were three times performed
in Zhongnanhai Headquarters of Beijing, China and simultaneously were
awarded " Dandelion Prize" by the National Culture Ministry.
Photograph works " Love on the Morning Green Ridge" and
"the She Ethnic Bride" were sent to Japan for exhibition. The
poem collection "Daughters and Sons of the Land" was for the
first time nominated for "Lu Xun literature Prize". From 1981
to2000, our city for nine times took part in the Wuyishan Music Festival
of Fujian Province and other 18 feature performances. In total, 220
programs have been produced and performed, of which 100-odd programs
received awards. Activities that lead to be the title "Culturally
Advanced County" have also been carried out throughout the city.
Gutian County and Fuding City in our area have been awarded "National
Culturally Advanced Model County" and "National Culturally
Advanced County" respectively.
Mingdong is the main residential region for the
She minority people who take up 24.72% of the total in the county. The She
people have created and left many precious cultural heritages in their
long historical practice. The She Culture and Arts are the most
characteristic and glamorous part of Mingdong cultures. In 1992 our city
carried "1,2,3,3 Projects" in order to publicize the She
Culture. "1,2,3,3 Projects" are building well 1 troupe, i.e. the
She Minority Song and Dance Troupe; running well 2 museums, i.e. the She
Minority Museum and the She Minority Revolutionary Memorial Museum;
activating 3 places, i.e. the She folklore and Culture Model Place in
Shanghua, Fuding city; the She History and Culture Model Place in Jinghan,
Jiaocheng Distrist, Ningde city, and the Tea Culture Model Place for the
She minority in Fu'an City. The last 3 refers to establishing one She
Minority Culture Research Association, cultivating one She Minority
Culture Research Team, and one series of She cultural activities. Within
the recent years, lots of She minority heritages have been protected.
Three volumes of the She minority folk tales, songs and proverbs have been
published. In total, 184 stories, 330,000 words in the song volume, 6,000
proverbs have been included. Some cultural and art works have been
produced out of the She minority folklore, culture, which reflect their
production and life. Some of them have been invited to take part in the
Third China Arts Festival, China Folk Wedding Show, and China Tourism
Festival, etc. Mingdong also successfully hosted the first She Minority
Songs Festival of Fujian Province in 1986,the first She Minority Culture
and Art Festival in Mingdong in 1990,the She Minority Folk Tourism
Festival in Mingdong, China, and the Yellow Croaker Investment and the She
Minority Culture Festival in December 1997.
The She minority cultural exchanges with
the outside world have been increasing and active. Ningde City She
Minority Songs and Dances Troupe was invited to perform in Macao during
the spring festival of 1997 and in the second half of the same year and in
the Spring Festival of 1998, the troupe was twice invited to visit and
perform in Singapore. As a cultural ambassador the artists of the She
minority culture and arts have sown the seeds of friendship in Southeast
Asia.