Foshan's lively cultural festival, the Tapo Temple Fair, commenced on July 23^rd on Zumiao Road in the Chancheng district. This year's festival will run from July 23^rd to July 30^th and promises to feature a range of traditional rituals, such as the washing with the Tapo Temple's water, as well as new events including a creative show of Chinese traditional style and culture, martial arts flash mobs, Cantonese opera performances, and more.

At the festival, the first Lingnan culture-themed market in the Guangzhou-Foshan area will be presented, featuring a reconstruction of the bustling ancient Tapo market. Over the course of eight days, locals and tourists alike will have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Lingnan culture and explore its unique characteristics.

During the opening ceremony, the original residents of Tapo used traditional bamboo poles to draw water from the Tapo Well and pour it into a copper gong, symbolic of the constant flow of Tapo water that nourishes all things. As the water was passed from hand to hand through the streets, it captured the spirit of the festival's theme.

As the old saying goes, “Tapo exists before Foshan”.Tapo is considered to be the birthplace of Foshan and has a long history steeped in legend. During the Dong (Eastern) Jin period (317–420),a monk from the Western built a hut on Tapo Hill (currently Tapo Street) and preached there. In 628 AD, three bronze Buddhas were discovered on the hill, and the Tapo Temple was rebuilt to house the three, along with the Tapo Well. The area was then renamed "Foshan," and Tapo became known as the "first land of Foshan" in the hearts of the locals.

In ancient times, during the sixth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, merchants doing business near the Tapo would pool their resources and invite local theater troupes to make a performance. The streets were decorated with flowers, with the celebrations lasting for an entire month, becoming one of Foshan's longest-running and most traditional folk festivals.

Today, the Tapo Temple Fair refers to not only one of Foshan's most exciting cultural events, but also an important day for locals to seek their cultural roots. Visitors from all over the world come to experience the fair and wash their hands with Tapo water, hoping to fulfill the traditional wish of "living life smoothly".

The current Tapo Temple Fair has ingeniously brought together several Lingnan cultural landmarks such as the Tapo Well, Cantonese Opera Museum, and Hongsheng Memorial Hall in a photography way of combing the exploration of the "first land" with emerging leisure activities. This approach has successfully attracted a large number of local citizens and tourists to come and experience the charm of Tapo firsthand.

At the festival, there is the first Lingnan culture-themed market in the Guangzhou-Foshan area, showcasing the magnificence of the former Tapo market through a convergence of intangible cultural heritage, floral and plant displays, handicrafts, cultural and creative projects, Lingnan specialty crops, folk customs, and other items. Throughout the festival, a series of performances incorporating intangible cultural heritage, Chinese traditional style, and contemporary art elements, will take turns gracing the stage, encompassing lion dance of King battles, Chinese traditional-style show, Cantonese opera, Cai Lifo boxing, Tai Chi, cross-talk comedy, street dancing, opera highlights, and ancient-style music play.

佛山民俗盛事塔坡庙会开锣

7月23日下午，2023年塔坡庙会文化艺术周在广东省佛山市禅城区祖庙街道启动。今年的塔坡庙会从7月23日持续到7月30日。除了洗塔坡水等传统仪式，还新增了国潮文创、武术快闪、粤剧展演、古风奏乐、鱼灯巡游、祈福树许愿、打卡艺术装置等系列活动，现场还打造了广佛地区首个岭南风物集，重现古时塔坡墟盛景，一连8天让市民和海内外游客沉浸式领略岭南文脉风情。

随着一声响亮的“取水喽”，塔坡原住居民用传统竹篙从塔坡井里打起水，倒入古时传水专用的铜磬。街巷里，井水在人们手中持续传递，代表着“塔坡水长流不息，润泽万物”的美好寓意……这是今年塔坡庙会启动仪式上的一幕。

俗话说，“未有佛山，先有塔坡”。塔坡是佛山古镇的发源地，也是佛山的得名之地。据史料记载，东晋年间，有西域僧人在塔坡岗（今塔坡街）结茅讲经。到了唐代贞观二年（628年），附近居民在这个小山岗上掘得铜佛三尊，于是重建塔坡寺供奉铜佛，并开凿塔坡井。这个地方于是改名为“佛山”，塔坡也成了佛山人心中的“佛山初地”。

在古时候，每逢六月初六，在塔坡一带做生意的商人，都会集钱筹资，广邀本地戏班合众参演，附近几条街都装饰成花街，庆贺活动最长的延续整个月，是佛山最具传统的民俗节庆活动之一。

如今的塔坡庙会，不仅是佛山最精彩的民俗文化活动之一，更是佛山人寻根怀古的重要日子，不少海内外游客也慕名来体验。在塔坡古井前，大家纷纷用古井水沐手，寄托着“洗过塔坡水，顺风又顺水”的美好愿景。

此次塔坡庙会以“初地游览+新兴游玩”的打卡方式将塔坡井、粤剧博物馆、鸿胜馆等多个岭南文化地标集结起来，吸引大批市民游客走进佛山初地，亲临其境体验塔坡魅力。

庙会上设置广佛首个岭南风物集，汇聚非遗、花植、手作、文创、岭南特色作物、民俗、非遗项目等，演绎昔日塔坡墟的繁华盛景。庙会期间，狮王争霸、国风表演、粤剧、蔡李佛拳、太极、相声、街舞、折子戏、古风乐队演奏等融合非遗、国潮、当代艺术元素的展演将轮番上演。

文｜羊城晚报全媒体记者 景瑾瑾 实习生 孔淑琳 通讯员 谭碧韵
图｜主办方提供
译｜陈萱
责编 | 王楠
校对 | 赵丹丹