China News Service, Anxi, Fujian, May 15th (Wu Guanbiao) A pair of cymbals and a few bamboo poles, Master Puguang, the abbot of Qingshuiyan in Anxi, Fujian, either tossed one cymbal, responded with another cymbal and made it spin rapidly on it; or It is to put a cymbal on a bamboo pole, let the cymbal fly high in the sky, and the bamboo pole bends and straightens... After more than a dozen moves, many pilgrims up the mountain applauded and took pictures.

  "It is not easy to make this pair of cymbals 'obedient', and it takes a long time to practice hard." Master Puguang told reporters that this skill is called "throwing cymbals", commonly known as "playing cymbals". It not only combines traditional skills such as martial arts and acrobatics, but also It is quite ornamental, and it also has a strong folk customs in southern Fujian.

  It is understood that cymbals are bronze Buddhist instruments and percussion instruments in Buddhist music.

"Throwing cymbals" is to use cymbals as props to perform various difficult acrobatics. Later, it was gradually integrated with local folk beliefs and developed into an acrobatic performance item in the religious and folk customs and legal activities in southern Fujian. Southern Fujian, Chaoshan and Taiwan.

  In 2019, throwing cymbals were included in the second batch of national and folk culture protection projects in China; this year, it was included in the "Seventh Batch of Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Projects in Fujian Province".

  From the age of 15, Master Puguang has been exposed to cymbal throwing under the influence of his master.

"At that time, there were not many entertainment projects. It was very interesting to watch Master play, and he could strengthen his body, so he just followed the study." This school is nearly 50 years old.

Master Puguang's apprentice Mingjing has been practicing cymbal throwing skills for more than 20 years.

Photo by Wu Guanbiao

  "Cymbal throwing is a relatively dangerous sport, and it's very hard to learn. It's a common practice to scratch the tiger's mouth, fingers, and hit the body during practice." Master Puguang said that throwing cymbals and catching cymbals are all about strength, position, balance, etc. There are strict requirements, so he often takes it out to practice, so that he will not be unfamiliar.

  It is worth mentioning that, due to the inheritance from Qingshuiyan, the ancestor of Qingshui, the cymbals of Master Puguang also have a strong Buddhist color. "and many more.

  Master Puguang was delighted for a long time to learn that the throwing cymbal was selected as a provincial intangible cultural heritage project this year.

He talked about the use of cymbal throwing skills in the national intangible cultural heritage project Dacheng drama, "There is a section in the Dacheng drama "Mulian Saves Mother" where Mulian attracts the attention of ghosts by throwing cymbals, and two Dacheng dramas Actors came to me to study for this segment."

  Today, Master Puguang is no longer as strong as he was when he was young.

In order to pass on the craft of cymbal throwing, he has also accepted a group of apprentices over the years.

But in the end, there are only two or three who can persevere and have a certain level.

  "As Master said, learning cymbal throwing is very hard, and it is easy to get injured. My head and back have been smashed." Apprentice Ming Jing said that he has been learning cymbal throwing with Master since he was 16 years old. for more than 20 years.

"Master said that if you want to learn a skill well, you must work hard."

  Throwing cymbals, practicing calligraphy, reading books, reciting scriptures... Now Master Puguang lives a self-disciplined and peaceful life, where there is movement in stillness and stillness in movement.

The skill of throwing cymbals is passed down from generation to generation in his slow and peaceful voice and vigorous and soaring posture.

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