Longdong wrestling started in primitive society, was popular in Qin and Han Dynasties, and flourished in Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China. In ancient times, the popular folk song opera of "Huang Di Fight Chi You" was a wrestling game in ancient times. Longdong wrestling is a kind of folk competitive project to cultivate bravery, tenacity and wit, and improve the quality of the people. It is also a special form of folk entertainment and funny activities. Especially, it is an indispensable link in rural temple fair activities. It has strong skills, fitness and performance.

On New Year’s Day, people come to "catch up with the chance", Wrestlers wear girdle, two people meet, grab the handle, or embrace the waist or leg, twist each other, tangle together. The good wrestler grabs his opponent's girdle, seizes the opportunity, kicks his feet, stretches his legs and hooks his arms at the same time. He makes a surprise to win and drops his opponent to the ground.

Longdong wrestling is an organic combination of skill, Qi, strength and art. In the movement, it stresses kicking, squabbling, twisting, hanging, squeezing, kneeling, hooking and other techniques, which are integrated and applied in one go. Beginners of wrestling generally have to learn the basic skill of "Zhong fan". That is to say, a long bamboo pole with a thin top and a thick bottom is used. The flag and ornaments are hung on the bamboo pole. The weight of the object depends on the age of each person.

When practicing, hold the flag with your palm, arm, forehead and even the bridge of your nose to keep it from falling down. Longdong wrestling pays special attention to the exercise of waist, abdomen and leg strength, emphasizing "eyes like lightning, waist like snake, feet like drill." It emphasizes the flexibility of hands and feet, coordination of limbs, and striving to win with speed. For a professional wrestler, as long as someone puts his hand on his arm or shoulder, he can feel where the body's center of gravity is. In the old days, when walking in the village, you saw someone with strong leg muscles, a slight drop in the hip bone, and a slightly " pigeon toe". In all likelihood, they were "practitioners".

Longdong wrestling takes the game as the goal and takes "finding happiness and drawing harmony" as the precondition. Longdong wrestling has a set of conventional etiquette. That is: before the competition, both sides should greet each other with fists and greet the audience. The competition requires "no smashing, no falling", that is, after the opponent falls, one does not fall on the opponent, but walks away and keeps a certain distance from the opponent. Advocate to keep smiling at each other throughout the whole process, and do not make the atmosphere too solidified.

Nowadays, Longdong wrestling has gradually faded out of people's sight, but as a symbol of primitive totem culture, it has left a beautiful flower in the history of rural folk culture in Longdong.

Time: July 17, 2020

Source: Tencent Folk Network