Meng Village Land Boat is a form of folk culture performance where participants simulate the act of rowing and steering a boat on land. The performance typically involves a “helmsman” who leads the way, making rowing gestures as if navigating a boat. The “passengers” on the boat perform a rapid, shuffling step, creating the illusion of a boat gliding smoothly over water, vividly portraying the scene of a boat moving along a river.
Land boat performances usually take place in rural areas, especially during the Chinese Lunar New Year. The performances start on the first day of the Lunar New Year and continue until the second day of the second lunar month (known as the “Dragon Raises Its Head” festival). The primary purpose is to pray for favorable weather and a prosperous year.
A land boat performance features 6-7 performers. A female performer stands inside the land boat, known as the “boat lady”. Two others, holding “lianxiang” (a type of rattle), act as oarsmen. Another performer, often playing the role of a clown, wields a broken palm fan in one hand and an oar in the other, with his nose powdered white. This clown circles the boat, fanning the audience, which brings about much laughter. The remaining performers play percussion instruments such as large gongs, small gongs, drums, and cymbals, creating a rhythm that the land boat follows during the performance.
The performance begins with a burst of drum and gong music, followed by the performers with rattles interspersing singing with the accompaniment of the musicians. The percussion instruments continue to play throughout, maintaining the lively atmosphere.
In larger performances, there are often multiple boats, with groups of three or five forming a line. They move in sync with the helmsman, rising and falling with the “waves”, spinning and swaying as if they were truly navigating. Sometimes, a single helmsman leads several boats, or two helmsmen row a single boat, and in other cases, multiple boats are led by a single boat. As they advance, they perform pre-rehearsed routines, characterized by their lively and dynamic movements, captivating the audience.
Over time, the traditional land boat performance has evolved. In some rural areas, modern vehicles like motorcycles and bicycles are decorated as land boats, and people drive them in processions, performing various formations and routines. This modern twist adds a new layer of excitement and continues to attract large audiences.
The accompanying music for the land boat dance primarily consists of percussion instruments such as gongs, drums, and cymbals. In some regions, one or two suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument) are added to the mix, enhancing the festive atmosphere. The performance is rich in local flavor and ethnic characteristics, making it a lively and colorful tradition.