Complete Ritual Text of “Jielong” (Receiving the Dragon)
The ceremony of “Receiving the Dragon,” held during the agricultural off-season following the autumn harvest, involves prayers for favorable weather (particularly rain), abundant harvests, and the prosperity of villagers and their livestock. It consists of four steps: “inviting the dragon” (qing long), “receiving the dragon” (jie long), “sharing the dragon[’s blessings]” (fen long), and “settling the dragon” (an long). The ritualist leads community members to the main well to draw water, known as “dragon water.” Afterwards, the ritualist leads everyone back to the village. During the procession, participants form two lines, each holding a long piece of cloth in one hand, representing the body of the dragon, and an open umbrella in the other. At the front, the dragon’s head leads the way. From a distance, the procession resembles the dragon’s body and scales. The ritualist’s residence is transformed into the “Dragon Hall” (long tang). After the procession returns to the village, half of the “dragon water” is poured into the Dragon Hall, with the remainder being distributed among participants. The ritualist then visits each participant’s household to “share the blessings” and finally “settle the dragon.” In this way, the dragon is formally welcomed into the village.
- Item No.
- A MT-060
- Notes
- Compiled by Shi Qi-gui in 1934
