National ICH: Longyan Tea-picking Dance

The Longyan Tea-picking Dance is a folk dance that integrates singing, opera and dance, widely popular in urban and rural areas of Longyan, Fujian province.

To this day, over 20 townships in Xinluo district, Longyan, still have active tea-picking dance performance teams that entertain in fields and villages, with the tradition being passed down through oral instruction and personal demonstration between masters and apprentices.

The Longyan Tea-picking Dance is often performed during New Year celebrations, temple fairs, street parades, and festive occasions, featuring dialogues and songs in the Longyan dialect to pray for prosperity and thriving families.

Originating from the tea-picking activities of working people, the dance portrays a group of lively village girls carrying tea baskets, following the witty and humorous "tea grandpa" and "tea grandma" as they trek through mountains and rivers to pick tea. The performance captures their joyful spirit and harmonious interaction with nature, including tea gardens, flowers, and butterflies.

The Longyan Tea-Picking Dance can be traced back to at least the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and has now gained renown both domestically and internationally.

Rich in vibrant life essence and artistic appeal, the dance holds significant aesthetic and socio-cultural value. It also serves as an important reference for studying the regional culture of Longyan.

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