An old Grain buds tradition: offering sacrifice to the Deity of Waterwheel

  Waterwheel  

The waterwheel is an important tool for irrigation. A saying goes, “Three things start in Grain Buds, filature, tanker and waterwheel.” Before the start of waterwheels, villagers perform a ceremony for “capturing water.” Senior citizens usually arrange the date and make preparations for the waterwheel ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, every household gets up at dawn and lights a torch. They eat semolina cakes, semolina pies and semolina rolls on waterwheels. When the leader sounds the drum and the gong (signaling the start of the ceremony), all echo by beating instruments. Then they go to the river and start several scores of waterwheels filled with water. Thus water is led to farmlands, to achieve the purpose of irrigation.

Offering a sacrifice to the deity of waterwheel is an old rural tradition. According to legends, the deity of waterwheel is a white dragon. People place fish and meat and scented candles in front of the waterwheel. One special thing among the offerings is a glass of water. They spill it on farmlands during the ritual. This represents their wish of having enough water for farming. This tradition demonstrates the importance attached to irrigation and drainage.

Source: Weather China

Translated by Chen Yanqiu

Editor: Wen Yi