CCTV+: Rice Culture in Wannian County

BEIJING,July 19,2022 -- Wannian County in Jiangxi Province is the cradle of rice culture. During the long-term cultivation,a unique rice custom,closely related to the indigenous folk culture of thousands of years,began to take shape and expressed itself in local farming techniques,ballads,and practices by solar terms.

The rice custom of Wannian County includes three aspects. First,sayings about farming. Local farmers always predict their farming time by solar terms. They say: "Waking up after lying dormant during the winter,we celebrate the coming spring and soaking seeds to hasten germination","Seeds shall be sowed around the Tomb Sweeping Day","Cotton shall be planted before the Grain Rain","Preliminary harvest at the Slight Heat,and complete harvest at the Great heat",etc. They sing ballads to get relaxed during their toilsome work: "Farmers plant rice seedlings by the river; With good harvests,they could afford a marriage."

Second,practices by solar terms,such as the Spring Fete on the fifth Wu day after the Beginning of Spring. On that day,the weather gets warmer,and farm cattle and farmers begin their work in the fields. Local people in Wannian believe that before the Spring Fete,the cattle shall not be exposed to the rain,or they would suffer lice. On the same day in ancient times,people would worship Shegong (God of the Soil) who blessed local people and stock. They performed dramas to pray for good weather and national peace. In a sense,this custom indicates some primitive rice management techniques. With the advent of new technology in farming,most farmers in Wannian have banished their blind faith,leaving the god's temples to fall into ruin.

Third,traditional food. For thousands of years,farmers have been working indefatigably day and night,and words couldn't express their pains. Therefore,they cherish the hard-won harvest and sincerely celebrate it. During the harvest season in the second half of each year,almost every household begins to make large rice cakes,which will be soaked in water until the spring of the next year.

The long-standing,well-established rice culture,the rice custom and tribute rice production technology in Wannian County have profound cultural deposits. It is an epitome of folk customs and the history of human survival and development,and plays an important role in the whole ancient culture.