China News Service, Xingtai, February 26th (Pei Guorong, Zhang Pengxiang and Li Chao) "Plum blossom boxing is popular all over the world, and children's bicycles ride around the world. These are two well-known names in our hometown." February 25th, the 16th day of the first lunar month, Du Liping, president of the Houmazhuang Protection and Inheritance Association of Pingxiang County, a national intangible cultural heritage plum blossom boxing, said at the 33rd China Pingxiang Plum Blossom Boxing Association.
On that day, more than 20,000 plum blossom boxing disciples and fans from Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Hebei Province gathered in Pingxiang, Xingtai, Hebei, the "hometown of Chinese plum blossom boxing culture", to show off their martial arts skills.
On February 25th, plum blossom boxing martial arts performance was held.
Photo by Zheng Ziqian
At the martial arts performance site, there were both a spirited 70-year-old man and a 6-year-old child who boxed with precision.
Fans of Plum Blossom Boxing took turns to show off their fists, including knives, spears, swords, and sticks. They used almost eighteen kinds of weapons to fight in singles and sparring. They flashed and moved with each move, as if they were facing a powerful enemy, which attracted continuous cheers from the audience.
"I have been practicing Plum Blossom Boxing for seven or eight years. Every year on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, I come to Houmazhuang Village to worship my master and worship my ancestors. At the same time, I learn and communicate with Plum Blossom Boxing enthusiasts. I gain a lot. Not only can I get to know more fellow practitioners, but my skills have also improved." Shandong Zheng Huanzang, a plum blossom boxing enthusiast from Guan County, Liaocheng City, said.
On February 25th, plum blossom boxing martial arts performance was held.
Photo by Han Zhengzheng
Plum Blossom Boxing is also called "Plum Blossom Pile" or "Plum Blossom Boxing". Because the boxing is divided into five postures, which match the shape of the five petals of a plum blossom, it is named "Plum Blossom Boxing".
"Plum Blossom Quan is based on patriotism and loving the people. In modern history, Plum Blossom Quan disciples have made great achievements in protecting the country and developing Chinese martial arts," said Du Liping.
On February 25th, plum blossom boxing martial arts performance was held.
Photo by Han Zhengzheng
On February 25th, plum blossom boxing martial arts performance was held.
Photo by Zheng Ziqian
Pingxiang is one of the birthplaces of Chinese Plum Blossom Boxing.
In 2006, "Xingtai Plum Blossom Boxing" was selected into the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
In order to deeply explore the culture of Plum Blossom Boxing and promote the inheritance of Plum Blossom Boxing, starting from 2021, Pingxiang County will actively promote the introduction of Plum Blossom Boxing into schools and incorporate Plum Blossom Boxing into primary and secondary school teaching as a school-based curriculum.
Up to now, more than 40,000 students in the county have practiced plum blossom boxing.
On February 25th, plum blossom boxing martial arts performance was held.
Photo by Zheng Ziqian
“In addition, we have built a Chinese Plum Blossom Quan Cultural Industrial Park that integrates the commemoration of the ancestor of Plum Blossom Quan, martial arts training, international exchanges and ecological agriculture sightseeing and tourism. Currently, it has built the ancestor hall, monument forest, martial arts performance hall, museum, training center, etc. It is under construction." Du Liping said that after the completion of the cultural park, it will play an important role in inheriting and carrying forward the local plum blossom boxing culture and promoting the plum blossom boxing spirit.
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