Every year on the third and the ninth day of the third month and the ninth day of the lunar calendar, a temple fair is held in Niushan, Linzi District, the ancient capital of Qi. After spring plowing and autumn harvest, locals come to Niushan to worship the mountain and worship the cows, praying that the divine cows will bless their families with peace and a bumper harvest.
Niushan Temple Fair originated in the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. It has a history of nearly 500 years. It has evolved from the initial simple worship activities to a large-scale folk gathering integrating culture, tourism, and commerce, and has been included in a provincial intangible cultural heritage.
Niushan is located 7 kilometers south of Linzi City. Although it is only 174 meters above sea level, it is famous for its natural landscape and historical value. The mountain has lush vegetation, beautiful trees on the top of the mountain, clouds evaporate during the day, and water vapor condenses at night. It has been famous since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period and is regarded as one of the famous mountains in Linzi. "Spring Returns to Niu Mountain is Rainy" has become one of the eight major scenic spots in ancient Linzi.
beautiful Ganniushan
Niushan Temple Fair is also a custom passed down by local people to commemorate the famous virtuous minister of Qi, Guan Zhong . In front of Guan Zhong's tomb, we pray for a bumper harvest and good fortune. During the heyday of the temple fair, many gods were worshipped in the palace and temples on Niushan, including the Buddha Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, , Holy Mother Hall, Guanyin Hall, Wenchang Pavilion, Dragon King Temple, Mountain God Temple, Eight Immortals Temple, Wang Lingguan Temple, etc. (It's a pity that most of these buildings are now annihilated). Every year, there are six-day temple fairs on the "Three Month" and "Nine Month" of the lunar calendar. Merchants from Qingzhou , Guangrao, Zibo and other places also come one after another. People rushing to the mountains are shoulder to shoulder, and various folk arts gather here, which is very lively. People come to participate in the Niushan Temple Fair to pay tribute and commemorate a generation of famous minister Guan Zhong, and remember the ancestors of Qi; second, pray for peace and happiness; third, go outings, tours, and relax.
colorful art performances
Niushan looks just an ordinary hill, but it carries a profound historical civilization and rich historical connotation. This is a Feng Shui treasure land. The saying "Niushan is lucky to have three feet of soil" was circulated in the Spring and Autumn Period. This place is where many emperors and generals sleep forever. On the northern foot of Niushan, there is the tomb of Guan Zhong, the famous prime minister who assisted the dominance of Qi Huan Gong . In the distance of the eastern foot is the tomb of Duke Huan Gong and Duke Jing of Qi. To the west is the tomb of King Wei of Tian Qi, King Xuan of Qi, King Chun of Qi, and Duke Xiang of Qi. In the southwest of Niushan, there is the tomb of the heroes of the Han Dynasty.
年0年0年0年0年0年0年0年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00年00� At the foot of a mountain on the bank of Zi River, I made a big war drum and buried the cow heads and bones on the mountain. From then on, when Zibo broke out in the rainy season, I could hear the croaking of the cows on the mountain at night. Later, people called this mountain Niushan. After the locals plowed in spring and harvested in autumn, they all went to worship the mountain and worship the cows. Another legend is that the name of Niushan originated from Jiang Taigong . Jiang Taigong was enfeoffed at Qidi Yingqiu , and he traveled thousands of miles day and night to Yingqiu. One night he got lost and happened to find a bull leading the way in front of him, and he took him to the side of the Zibo River. Then the cow disappeared, and a mountain appeared in front of him. Jiang Taigong called the mountain Niushan. The third legend is that in a long time ago, a drizzling spring, a herder came to this mountain to herd cattle. It turned out that he led a cow, but it became two days, three... in a short time... and it was reproduced into a group. Everyone thought this was a good place to herd cattle, so it was named Niushan.
According to " Yan Zi Spring and Autumn · Jing Gong Climbing Niu Mountain and leaving the country and died in his sadness", Qi Jing Gong once climbed the mountain and looked into the distance and saw the magnificent and magnificent buildings in Qidu facing the north. Not only did he feel moved by the scenery, but he thought about how he could bear to be prosperous and wealthy once he died, so he covered his face and cried. His favoritism cried with him. Yan Ying sneered and said, "If the wise keep it, then Taigong and Huan Gong will always keep it; if several kings will always keep it, then how can you get this position and stand it?" Therefore, later generations immediately put a stone tablet on the side of the "Jing Gong's tears".
Mencius When climbing this mountain, he once praised "The trees in Niushan are very beautiful". Cao Zhi, a talented man who became a poem in the seven-step period of the Three Kingdoms period, the famous poet of the late Tang Dynasty, Du Mu, and the representative figure of the literary world of the Qing Dynasty, all left behind masterpieces that praised Niushan, lamented the rise and fall of history, and the joys and sorrows of life after climbing this mountain.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, some people came to the mountains to visit, write poems and send funerals, and erect stones and erect monuments. Several magistrates also personally planted trees and afforested forests here with the people. In a few years, beautiful trees were lush and green. In the Qing Dynasty, many temples were built from the hillside to the top of the mountain, with pavilions and pavilions, surrounded by incense. At that time, the scenery here was beautiful and bright. In March, the hot spring water rose and drifted with the wind, like a thin mist or drizzle. It blew when you stroked your face and felt wet. It was called "Niushan Spring Rain".
In the 1960s, when my country was compiling "Chinese Folk Songs Collection" and "Selection of Shandong Folk Songs", Zibo City excavated and organized the "Kangniushan" minor tune . Compared with "Yimeng Mountain Minor", the Zibo Minor "Dang Niushan" has been circulating for a longer time, and the songs are more melodious and delicate, and can better reflect the regional folk customs and life. "Dang Niushan" describes the scene of the two sisters driving Niushan temple fair. The content is vivid and vivid, the melody is light and melodious, and it is refreshing with fresh tone and sparse rhythm. The minor tune of "Driving Niushan" has become an excellent representative of the minor tune of Chinese folk song . In 1983, Shandong Province held a folk song tuning, and "Driving Niushan" has become a must-sing song.
"Kangniushan" music score
Now, the minor tune of "Kangniushan" has developed dozens of versions of folk art, dance, chorus, etc., and various literary forms. To this day, "Dang Niushan" still touches and inspires generations of people on this ancient and vibrant land, expressing simple emotions with singing, creating a better life with labor, and passing on this precious historical and cultural treasure.
