Fishermen's gongs and drums [Photo/WeChat account: rcly12301]

Surrounded by mountains and seas and endowed with a profound history and prosperous fishery industry, Rongcheng in Weihai, Shandong province is a cradle for China's fishing culture and folk art.

For thousands of years, local fishermen have created diverse cultures that are closely related to living by the sea. Rongcheng is renowned for fishermen's gongs and drums, yangko, a traditional folk dance, and haozi, which is composed of folk songs performed to synchronized movements.

Fishermen's gongs and drums

The drumbeats of gongs and drums in Rongcheng are compact and bright, rough and unrestrained, and have distinct characteristics of Jiaodong fishermen. In 2008, Rongcheng fishermen's gongs and drums were selected into the Weihai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.

Fishermen's gongs and drums [Photo/WeChat account: rcly12301]

This folk-art form dates back to as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when local fishermen played gongs and drums to show the majestic vastness of the sea, inspire people's courage and express the joy of a fruitful harvest.

After generations of inheritance and development, fishermen beat out their passion and strength and demonstrate their pioneering spirit in the new era.

Fishermen's yangko

With a long history and distinctive charm, Rongcheng's yangko is a unique folk dance created by local coastal fishermen who combine regional characteristics with fishermen's temperament that has been created throughout the history of fishing. In 2019, the Rongcheng yangko was added to the Weihai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.

Fishermen's yangko [Photo/WeChat account: rcly12301]

Rongcheng yangko reproduces the scene of fishermen going out to fish, sailing in the wind and waves on the sea and netting a big catch. It shows the hardworking, brave, simple and forthright characters of fishermen. Rongcheng yangko has two types of melodies: the cheerful, flexible and dynamic minor mode and the bold and unrestrained ethnic tone.

Haozi

Rongcheng haozi usually has rough tunes with vigorous, powerful, graceful, melodic or humorous sounds to unite people and motivate their spirits. In 2009, the Rongcheng fishermen's haozi was added to the Shandong Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.

Rongcheng fishermen's haozi [Photo/WeChat account: rcly12301]

In the 1950s and 1960s, the local fishing boats were all wooden-hulled boats. In winter, the boats were moved onto shore, and in spring, the boats were pulled back to the sea to start the fishing season. Moving the boats usually required 40 or 50 people.

Therefore, when villagers worked together to do this job, there was always a person standing on the deck of the fishing boat to shout a chant in a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere, which was the original form of haozi. 

The chant has gradually evolved from the simple syllable form to haozi with modes and libretto, which is rich in content and has been handed down from generation to generation among fishermen.