[Explanation] At 12 o'clock on August 16, the three-and-a-half months of summer fishing in the South China Sea ended. The ban on 16,700 fishing boats in Hainan Province was lifted and they went out to sea for animal husbandry. In the fishing port of Lingshui New Village in southern Hainan, the local Danjia fishermen put colorful flags on boats and boats after a traditional sea sacrifice ceremony and honked their whistle to echo the orderly going out to sea.
[Concurrent] Liang Zhenyang, President of Danjia Cultural Association, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province
(Purpose) Just bless our fishermen and do this sea sacrifice ceremony. Because of the high winds and waves and the high risk of dangerous operations, we also pray that they can go to sea smoothly and return safely and bless them with a bumper harvest and a full return.
[Explanation] According to Liang Zhenyang, President of the Danjia Cultural Association of Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province, the Dan family has used the sea as their home and fishing industry since ancient times. The sea is like a mother to the Dan family. A traditional sea sacrifice is held before going to sea. The ceremony is divided into reciting the sacrificial texts, respecting the five grains, dancing dragons and lions, burning incense, etc., just like the children tell their mothers and arrange things at home before going out to work. This is also the awe of nature from the Dan family.
[Concurrent] Liang Zhenyang, President of Danjia Cultural Association, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province
Our sea sacrifice ceremony is also our family's awe of nature and the sea. Because the sea is our mother, we take the sea as our home and live by the sea, so nature is our parents, so we must also respect them.
[Explanation] Liang Zhenyang said that in addition to fishing, the local family members offered sacrifices to overseas. When they encountered difficulties and problems in the fishing process, they would also use boats as a unit to perform sea sacrifices. Asking Mother Dahai for help is related to the living habits of the Dan family, which is the traditional cultural custom of the Dan family.
[Concurrent] Liang Zhenyang, President of Danjia Cultural Association, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province
For a period of time, the harvest is not so good. Our fishermen will do some rituals and simple rituals on their own boats. For example, we will offer sacrifices to the sea, use some tributes, burn incense, and set off firecrackers, also in order to pray for safety and a full return.
Reporter Li Yufan reports from Lingshui, Hainan
Editor in charge: [Tao Guangxiong]