Xucun Big Knife Lantern

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Da Dao Deng is a traditional folk activity that has been passed down in Xucun, an ancient town in the northwest of Shexian County. It is one of the distinctive activities of Shexian County and originated from the people of Xucun’s remembrance of their ancestor, the Tang Dynasty’s loyal and righteous Duke Xu Yuan. In order to commemorate the martyrs, educate future generations, and prevent the loss of the “Xu family knife technique”, the custom of using large knives and lanterns was formed in the third to fourth year of the Tongzhi reign. The descendants of the Xu family designated the 15th day of the first lunar month every year as the commemoration day for the loyal and righteous Duke Xu Yuan. That evening, all the ancestral halls of the Xu family had to send out a sword dance team, wielding large knives over two zhang high, walking up a ten mile long street and dancing back and forth all night.