前言

      中華是龍的國度，千百年來人們對龍寄予豐富多彩的遐想，積淀了龍的深厚文化，龍舟競渡就是其中的一脈。據考究，端陽龍舟競渡源自春秋戰國時期民俗“祭龍日”，流傳最廣泛的是紀念愛國詩人屈原；還有少數民族反映遠古狩獵、農耕的賽龍……。雖云滄海桑田，源遠流長的龍舟文化長盛不衰，並不斷賦予新的內涵。今天龍舟競渡已從民間地方民俗的活動，發展成專業的體育競技運動，並走向世界，逐漸成為國際上中西文化共融的平台。人們在每年農曆五月初五端午節期間食粽、賽龍船與游龍舟水等民間習俗還相當盛行；尤其是江南一帶，人們喜聞樂見的“賽龍奪錦”成為坊間普天同慶的盛會。在節日期間，人們仍循習俗，在家門口插上昌蒲草、艾葉；給小孩佩掛五彩香葯囊，那草葯散發的芳香有驅蟲僻邪的功效。過去還流行端陽飲雄黃酒的習俗，或把葯酒噴灑臥室及庭院，在春夏交替之際殺菌驅蟲，以利農耕，以順作息。源遠的民俗見証中華千古的文明。

     在龍的故里，來自坊間自娛自樂的龍舟競渡有著廣泛群眾基礎，各具特色，各自各精彩。龍舟巡遊互訪是節日坊間必備的內容，起龍後，經過修葺一新的龍船上頭牌、羅傘、彩旗齊備，健兒統一裝束，光彩亮麗的錦龍輕槳漫遊到各坊相互拜訪，互頌吉祥。有些比賽在大江大河裡（乃至海灣裡）舉行，多艘龍船平起競速的鬥龍；有“以尾收龍艇”的耐力龍艇賽（即後隨者認輸，前者才能作勝）；有在狹窄、彎曲的艱險賽道裡單打獨鬥的技巧賽龍等。比賽結束後，不少地區仍承傳相互送別的習慣，似水柔情的場景，你送我一程，我還送你一段，一送一還的比西子湖畔“十八相送”還要纏綿。要數別具特色、鬥智鬥勇的龍船競渡，當是筆者故鄉——南海滘鄉的“扒夜龍”。挑燈夜戰、賽龍奪錦到底始於何朝何代，我的爺爺的爺爺也說不清，聽說原滘培風社學的中堂有詩記載：“滘涌曲，端陽吊屈。龍船競渡，明興清盛。”總之，年復一年鄉裡賽龍奪錦長盛不衰，仍是那樣萬人空巷普天同慶。入夜時分，凡龍船要經過的河涌早已燈火通明，觀龍者人聲鼎沸，神采飛揚；河道上標艇如鯽，河岸上人密如麻。全鄉十多艘龍船聚首一處，在特定的艱險賽道中單打獨鬥，以不碰不撞用最短時間完成賽事而論英雄。比賽中各坊龍船都使出渾身解數，歷險過關；直道上乘風破浪，轉彎處驚險百出；賽龍的鑼鼓聲，人們的歡呼喝彩聲，轟鳴的爆竹聲，聲聲鼎沸，高潮迭起。間歇時，停泊在河滘的大艇上，水上十番適時助慶；醒目的水獅在數尺的木船平台上，仍是天地廣闊，神采飛揚；鑼鼓櫃八音樂隊高奏“得勝令”，“賽龍奪錦”粵悠揚。人們熱鬧忘情的場面就像歡樂的海洋。此外，廣州獵德的“炮仗龍舟”亦聞名遐邇頗具特色，賽龍的健兒在行進的龍舟上，不停地燃燒爆竹，一箱接一箱，數量驚人。歷時三個多小時的賽龍舟盛會，爆竹聲、鑼鼓聲震耳欲聾，連綿不絕。水道上煙霧瀰漫，百龍匯川，千槳迸發，激情四射。雖隔岸觀戰，亦足以令人血脈沸騰。

     懷一顆中國心，多年來筆者透過相機鏡頭記錄了不少中國龍的風采。在眾多的照片中，筆者嘗試精選最具代表性的一百六十張，編纂成集，在二零零八年北京奧運年與大眾分享，請方家斧正。從中我們可以領略到中國龍舟競渡滲透同心協力，奮發向前的精神；有乘風破浪，不畏艱險和力的衝勁；有娛樂百姓，真情互動，和諧忘情和停不了的歡樂感人場面，這些都是龍舟競渡的魅力所在。同時，筆者透過照片深深感悟到，龍舟競渡承載的是中華民族千古燦爛的文化，積淀的是古今相通的優良傳統，是我們中國人的根。

李鴻鐧 EFIAP, ARPS, Hon. FMPC, FPSNY, APSHK

 

Prelude

    The dragon is the most venerated of the Chinese zodiac deities associated with many imaginary fancies and a solid foundation of the dragon culture such as the dragon boat race. Studies indicate that the race originates from the” Dragon Worship Day” dating back to the War States period. The legend behind the Dragon Boat Festival embodies the stories of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet; and the farming and hunting activities of ethic minorities in ancient times. Notwithstanding the passage of time, the traditional culture of the dragon boat race grows and absorbs new elements. Today, the race has developed from a domestic cultural event into a popular international sports tournament as well as a mutual platform for cultural exchange. During the festival period around the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, the customary practices of dragon boat racing; swimming and eating rice dumplings remain very popular. In southern China region, the boat race even becomes a carnival. In addition, the traditions of giving children fragrant pouches; hanging mugwort and palm leaves on the front doors; drinking yellow wine and spraying herbal wine inside the houses and the courtyards all intended for the protection against bacteria illness and facilitating farming works during the change of season from Spring to Summer. The dragon boat culture witnesses the Chinese civilization with heritage of thousands of years. Dragon boat races in different regions of China are with distinctive features but common strong support from the community.

     Dragon boat parades and mutual visits among the villages are customary. Before action, a traditional rite is performed to “awaken” the dragon and to equip the newly decorated dragon boat with a title plaque, a canopy and coloured flags. Then the teams in uniforms paddle with easy strokes for the visit journeys and exchange blessings with each other. There are different race formats. The standard race is held in large rivers and streams, or even harbours, with several teams competing towards the destination at the same time. The “Endurance Race” winner goes to the team still in action while all the competitors have given up. The “Solo Race” is held in narrow and winding water passages and a single boat takes turn to race for the fastest time. The most spectacular “Dragon Boat Night Race”, demanding vigorous test of skill and tactics, is found at Diejiao - author’s home town. The origin of this night race is unknown to the author’s ancestors but at a local ancient school hall finds the poem writings -“In memory of Qu Yuan, dragon boat race is held at Diejiao streams on Duan Wu Festival day, this ceremony starts in Ming Dynasty and flourishes in Qing Dynasty”. During the race, each dragon boat strives to speed up at the straight passage and to pass the sharp turns smoothly, thereby creating an exciting scene mixed with the pounding sounds of drums and gongs; firecrackers explosions; applauses and cheers form the spectators. In between the rounds, musicians on sampans take turns to perform the famous Cantonese musical titles such as “Song of Triumph” and “Dragon Boat Races for Championship”, while lively water lion dance is performed on the tiny boat deck. The night race attracts crowds of spectators in cheers. Moreover, the “Firecracker Dragon Boat Race” held in Leide, Guangzhou is well known for its unique characteristics whereby the race teams ignite abundant firecrackers while in action. The smoky waterway scene with vigorous paddling action, together with the mixed sounds of continuous firecracker explosions and deafening sounds of drums and gongs, creates non-stop excitements to the spectators on the riverbanks. In some regions, after the race, the customary farewell practice remains and the teams bid farewell to each other in turns repeatedly. The tender affection shown at times is apparently more touching than the episode of the legendary Chinese drama -“18-mile Farewell by the West Lake”.

    With China at heart, the author has taken wealth of photographs relating to the traditional culture of dragon boat races over the years. Out of this photographic collection, the author has ventured to select 160 pieces with remarkable highlights for this Photo Collections, with a view to sharing with the readers on the occasion of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; and appealing for their kind comments. Through the dragon boat race traditional culture, we may appreciate the dragon boat race fundamentals, namely; the spirits for teamwork and devotion for advancement; the power of wave-breaking energy and overcoming challenge; the entertainment aspects of common joyfulness, interactive passions, harmonic and touching scenes. These elements are the charms of the dragon boat races. Through these photographs, the author also deeply appreciate that the dragon boat races encompass the heritage of Chinese many splendid traditional cultures, linking a fine tradition of the past and the present, of which are the root of the Chinese people.

Ban H.K. LI EFIAP, ARPS, Hon. FMPC, FPSNY, APSHK