Sacrificing the royal ship
By Nicco
Photos by Nicco & Zheng Xian

送王船又称烧王船,是我省沿海渔村长期以来形成的一种民间习俗,在闽南一带的说法则是慰藉和祭悼海上遇难的英灵,祈求海上靖安和渔发利市. 10月30日,厦港老市区举行了三年一次的"送王船"仪式.尼克先生受本报邀请作为惟一在场的外国人,目睹了这一地道而又奇特的文化现象.

A few days ago, some friends invited me to witness a traditional ceremony, which is celebrated every three years in Xiamen.

The Xiamen that the majority of foreigners and locals know, today, is a modern clean city with lovely parks, fashionable shopping centers, boutiques, restaurants, night life, up and coming traffic congestion, etc. However, there is another Xiamen, which is kept a secret from most people- the traditional Xiamen with the lovely simple people with warm hearts and poor pockets!

Meeting outside the symbolic Lao Zhiqing Restaurant, we headed off to the old port area near Xiamen University to join in on the last day of the four day festival paying homage to those fishermen lost at sea. The ceremony -similar to those celebrated in other parts of the world -in Fujian, seems more complex to the foreigner who has only a small education in traditional Chinese culture.

Arriving at the venue of the ceremony, one noticed a hive of activity with the most striking symbol being the bright colors. Girls and boys wearing their traditional "brass band" uniforms were the traditional musical group to lead the procession to the beach later where the "ship of the ceremony" would be sacrificed to the gods.

The atmosphere was fantastic -Taoist priests in traditional robes were there to assist at the ceremony, young actors were present performing an old theatrical piece speaking in a local dialect- that very few young people understand today. Several elderly came from Taiwan who had a deep knowledge of this old ceremony. The preparation was very precise. Every detail on the beautiful ship that had been constructed for the "sacrifice" was perfect, from the very small symbolic figures in traditional clothes on the railing of the ship to the four banners of the four temples who participated in the ceremony.



The food presented for "sacrifice" was very impressive -being a foreigner and not understanding why so much beautiful food was on display (thinking that it was for later to eat after the ceremony!). This was one of the most important parts of the ceremony including the enormous amount of "money" -not real! -to be destroyed afterwards!

The most important part of the ceremony began with four men carrying a symbolic tray attached to the "spirit", which is difficult to define in words. The violent movements of the tray were "transmitted" in a sense I could not understand. At the same time the "wise elder" from Taiwan bear torso and bear foot was "in contact with the spirits" and he proceeded in his distributing of small gifts to the onlookers at the ceremony, prior to the eventual final voyage to the beach and the sea for the sacrifice.

After two hours, the procession set off to the beach near the University where the "Royal Ship" was burnt. I felt inside that it was such a sad end to such a beautiful symbol. However a beautiful symbol had been offered to the gods.

A final point, this ceremony was very emotional and being the only foreigner participating in this ceremony...not as "another group tourist" but as someone fascinated by seeing "true old China", I considered it a unique experience. There were even some lovely old people who were surprised at seeing a "Laowai" among the kind simple folk of Xiamen. One thing is sure, this ceremony will still be there, way after the concrete, shopping centers, night clubs, restaurants and the "fashionable" modern society has disappeared!

Until next time.

What is Remembrance Day?



Remembrance Day is on November 11th. In the U.S., it is called Veteran's Day. It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. At one time the day was known as Armistice Day and was renamed Remembrance Day after the Second World War.

The central element of Remembrance Day ceremonies is one minute of silence. People pause to remember the sacrifice of those who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts and all those who have served during the past 100 years.

Throughout the world the poppy is associated with the remembrance of those who died in order that we may be free. Wearing a poppy on that day has enabled people to show that they have not forgotten those that sacrificed their lives.

The Ancient Greeks believed that rosemary made their memories stronger. This idea has been carried on today when people wear sprigs of rosemary as a symbol of remembrance for those who have died in wars.

龙宽9段印象记
By 高翔



11月5日,北京流行组合"龙宽9段"应TD唱片邀请,来厦门签名售碟.14点05分抵达厦门,15点35分抵达TD唱片禾祥西路店,做签售前的准备, 以及当晚小型演唱会的音响调试.因为当天晚上和Apple Pie做联合演出,所以我也与他们做了沟通.

他们一行5人走上TD唱片2楼,虽然没见过面,田鹏(9段)一见到我就友好地伸出手,自我介绍,他戴着有帽檐的灰绿色帽子, 黑色的运动外套,拉链拉到下巴上,很酷.京文经纪人,微胖的长发女生小武和我接上了头,她热情干练.龙宽比我想像中更小巧一些,外形基本 和海报上的相差不多,像邻家女孩, 轻微的怕生.小武偷偷告诉我龙宽很"淘",就是很调皮的意思, 我也发现她有点古灵精怪,哈哈,人如其歌,过了一会儿果真自己在那玩起了Apple Pie乐队的架子鼓.另外有两名助理,一男一女, 都挺可爱的,男的长得像年轻时候的孙国庆,女生"臭臭"居然长得超像林俊杰.

下午5点,他们来到世贸商城,在厦广音乐台的安排下做了长达1个小时的听友见面会,气氛热烈.田鹏被逼吃了涂有芥末 的土笋冻,龙宽吃素,逃过一劫.

晚上7点半,TD唱片禾祥店2楼,"龙宽9段"签唱开始,先签后唱,龙宽演唱了《莲花》,《我听这种音乐的时候最爱你》,还有她自己很喜欢 的《胃在烧》等4首歌,唱伴奏带,田鹏弹电吉他,他用的是一把韩国产的黑色"Parker"(和FIR吉他手的一样,颜色不同),现场气氛很好. 厦门的听众以2米的近距离接触了一个出色的音乐团体龙宽9段.Sunshine FM的BBS上有一些当天的演出照片,有空可以去瞧瞧.