龍(long)(long)檔由“板凳(deng)龍(long)(long)”發(fa)展而來,用木頭制作成凳(deng)形(xing)的(de)龍(long)(long)身,多節聯結成一(yi)條木板龍(long)(long)身,它是浙南樂(le)清地區(qu)別具地方特(te)色的(de)傳統工藝美(mei)術之(zhi)一(yi),也是江南人民長期以來進行自娛自樂(le)的(de)一(yi)種民間文(wen)化(hua)活動形(xing)式。
樂(le)清(qing)龍檔(dang)歷史悠(you)久,元(yuan)大德(de)年(nian)間撰修(xiu)的《樂(le)清(qing)縣志(zhi)》曾對樂(le)清(qing)城鄉(xiang)元(yuan)宵節活動有過(guo)生動的描寫:“里社笙歌達旦,通(tong)衢剪彩,與(yu)眾共賞,與(yu)民同樂(le)。”“火(huo)樹(shu)光騰城不夜,銀(yin)花焰吐景長春。”樂(le)清(qing)龍檔(dang)據傳始于(yu)明代,至今(jin)已(yi)有500多年(nian)歷史。
明代姜淮所著《歧海瑣談》記載,當(dang)時樂(le)(le)清(qing)(qing)就有盛傳“村落(luo)糊楮,像龍(long)(long)(long)首(shou)(shou)(shou)尾(wei),裁版為身,機轉(zhuan)轆轤,篝燈于上(shang),從(cong)以金鼓,沿門索(suo)賞,謂(wei)之龍(long)(long)(long)船燈。”首(shou)(shou)(shou)飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)制作技藝是浙江(jiang)南部溫(wen)州(zhou)地(di)(di)(di)區樂(le)(le)清(qing)(qing)境內一種獨(du)特的(de)(de)民(min)間工藝,目(mu)前主要集中(zhong)在樂(le)(le)清(qing)(qing)市北白象鎮、柳市鎮等西鄉一帶。樂(le)(le)清(qing)(qing)古老的(de)(de)吳越民(min)俗遺存、濃郁的(de)(de)海洋文(wen)化(hua)(hua)氣息和(he)(he)商貿文(wen)化(hua)(hua)特色,獨(du)特的(de)(de)地(di)(di)(di)理位置和(he)(he)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)背(bei)景是首(shou)(shou)(shou)飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)制作技藝誕生的(de)(de)基礎。樂(le)(le)清(qing)(qing)首(shou)(shou)(shou)飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)因其具(ju)有獨(du)特的(de)(de)民(min)俗文(wen)化(hua)(hua)價值和(he)(he)極強的(de)(de)觀賞性,一直受到當(dang)地(di)(di)(di)群(qun)眾的(de)(de)喜愛(ai)。每年元宵節前后,樂(le)(le)清(qing)(qing)各地(di)(di)(di)都會舉行(xing)盛大(da)的(de)(de)首(shou)(shou)(shou)飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)游(you)行(xing)活動,人們期望首(shou)(shou)(shou)飾(shi)龍(long)(long)(long)能(neng)帶來風(feng)調(diao)雨(yu)順、五谷豐(feng)登。
“火樹光騰城不(bu)(bu)夜,銀花焰吐景(jing)長春。”樂清西鄉(xiang)一(yi)帶有著(zhu)(zhu)劃龍(long)船(chuan)的傳統習俗,一(yi)般都(dou)是正(zheng)月(yue)(yue)初八(ba)上燈,正(zheng)月(yue)(yue)十七光燈,而龍(long)檔正(zheng)月(yue)(yue)初一(yi)就開始(shi)拼(pin)裝。龍(long)檔隨著(zhu)(zhu)龍(long)船(chuan)出游,鑼鼓開道,吹(chui)吹(chui)打打,好不(bu)(bu)熱鬧。翁垟鎮(zhen)雪(xue)灣村的木雕龍(long)檔始(shi)制作于(yu)光緒四(si)年(1878年),至(zhi)今已(yi)有131年的歷史(shi),由于(yu)年代久(jiu)遠,它的最早雕刻者已(yi)經(jing)無(wu)從考證。后幾(ji)經(jing)修復。
1952年以后相繼開展破除(chu)迷信(xin)和(he)(he)破四舊等運動,村(cun)里不再(zai)劃龍(long)(long)船,該龍(long)(long)檔(dang)也被(bei)束(shu)之高閣,分別存放在村(cun)里兩戶大(da)戶人(ren)家(jia)的樓閣上。也正因如此(ci),在文化大(da)革命年代紅衛兵(bing)到處抄(chao)家(jia)時,這(zhe)條(tiao)龍(long)(long)檔(dang)才躲過(guo)了(le)一劫(jie),被(bei)保(bao)存了(le)下來。據村(cun)民李希勤介紹,上世紀七(qi)十年代末,村(cun)里請樂(le)清(qing)龍(long)(long)檔(dang)雕刻名家(jia)鄭祥奎、鄭勝(sheng)存2人(ren)修(xiu)復該龍(long)(long)檔(dang)時,重新雕刻配置了(le)全(quan)部檔(dang)鑲人(ren)物雕刻和(he)(he)部分其他部位及有(you)關(guan)配件。中央電視臺來樂(le)清(qing)市拍攝“千年古縣”時,這(zhe)條(tiao)古老龍(long)(long)檔(dang)就吸引了(le)他們的目光,被(bei)搬(ban)上央視的熒屏。
2007年,首飾龍制(zhi)作技藝(yi)(yi)成(cheng)功申報(bao)第(di)二批浙江省非(fei)(fei)物質文(wen)化遺產項目。2007年9月(yue),樂(le)清(qing)首飾龍在(zai)“中國(guo)非(fei)(fei)物質文(wen)化遺產保護成(cheng)果展”中展出;2007年12月(yue)被中國(guo)藝(yi)(yi)術研究院收藏。當前,樂(le)清(qing)有2家專(zhuan)業的首飾龍制(zhi)作基(ji)地。該項目價值重大,技藝(yi)(yi)難學,藝(yi)(yi)人年紀漸增(zeng),保護迫在(zai)眉(mei)睫。
樂清龍(long)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)取材選用樟樹(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)與田(tian)泥樹(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu),樟木雕(diao)刻(ke)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)頭、檔(dang)(dang)(dang)尾、檔(dang)(dang)(dang)鑲(xiang)人(ren)物和(he)(he)牌坊以及亭臺(tai)樓(lou)閣,用田(tian)泥樹(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)制作(zuo)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)、大檔(dang)(dang)(dang)背(bei)、小檔(dang)(dang)(dang)背(bei)和(he)(he)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)柄。龍(long)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)一般長20至40米,把(ba)樟木和(he)(he)田(tian)泥樹(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)用木工(gong)(gong)鋸(ju)鋸(ju)成塊(kuai)形或扁方長形的(de)板(ban)(ban)料(liao),再(zai)按(an)規格定好(hao)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)背(bei)和(he)(he)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)的(de)木料(liao),接著(zhu)對板(ban)(ban)料(liao)按(an)規格加工(gong)(gong)成檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)和(he)(he)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)背(bei),并對塊(kuai)料(liao)進行選題加工(gong)(gong)人(ren)物(如戲劇人(ren)物、三國、神話故(gu)(gu)事等題材)。檔(dang)(dang)(dang)背(bei)和(he)(he)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)之間配好(hao)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)鑲(xiang)材料(liao),每(mei)個檔(dang)(dang)(dang)鑲(xiang)上(shang)定好(hao)各(ge)個歷史故(gu)(gu)事人(ren)物,每(mei)個檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)上(shang)有(you)(you)猛獸,還(huan)有(you)(you)故(gu)(gu)事人(ren)物上(shang)的(de)旗桿斗。檔(dang)(dang)(dang)頭和(he)(he)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)尾配上(shang)亭臺(tai)樓(lou)閣及牌坊,亭臺(tai)樓(lou)閣內又有(you)(you)歷史人(ren)物和(he)(he)活動(dong)的(de)情(qing)節。檔(dang)(dang)(dang)背(bei)、檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)采用浮雕(diao)山水花鳥和(he)(he)人(ren)物故(gu)(gu)事題材。整個雕(diao)刻(ke)完工(gong)(gong)后(hou)還(huan)要油(you)漆(qi)加工(gong)(gong)、色彩描繪,整條龍(long)檔(dang)(dang)(dang)一律漆(qi)上(shang)朱紅,貼上(shang)金箔或紅、黃、藍(lan)、綠、紫各(ge)種色彩。最后(hou)把(ba)燈(deng)籠(long)放置在檔(dang)(dang)(dang)板(ban)(ban)中間,在游行時(shi)點亮燈(deng)籠(long),就顯出其玲瓏(long)剔透、金碧輝煌(huang)的(de)氣勢。
龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)出(chu)游(you)時,彩(cai)旗(qi)燈(deng)牌鑼(luo)(luo)鼓開(kai)道,長竿燈(deng)籠引路(lu),首飾(shi)龍(long)(long)在(zai)其中(zhong),樂(le)(le)清龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)隨(sui)后(hou)(hou),末尾鼓樂(le)(le)隊吹吹打打,一(yi)派“火樹銀花(hua)滿街舞”的盛(sheng)景。整條(tiao)樂(le)(le)清龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)由(you)身強力壯的青年(nian)背檔(dang)(dang),每人(ren)身穿武功(gong)服,戴頭巾,腳步(bu)合著鑼(luo)(luo)鼓的節奏邁進,顯(xian)得英(ying)姿勃勃。當(dang)樂(le)(le)清龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)游(you)行(xing)(xing)到(dao)指(zhi)定地點(dian),那里(li)早已擺好香(xiang)案(an),貢上祀(si)品,點(dian)燃鞭炮,迎接龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)隊伍的到(dao)來。先由(you)龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)在(zai)寬(kuan)闊的場地表演舞龍(long)(long),幾十人(ren)扛著龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)加快(kuai)步(bu)伐,一(yi)會(hui)兒扛著龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)卷圈(quan)式,一(yi)會(hui)兒波浪式跑(pao)動(dong)。而(er)后(hou)(hou)龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)停在(zai)香(xiang)案(an)邊,讓群眾觀賞,并由(you)游(you)龍(long)(long)隊伍里(li)的唱師(shi)在(zai)香(xiang)案(an)前唱賀詞。行(xing)(xing)罷禮儀(yi),主(zhu)人(ren)要放鞭炮歡送樂(le)(le)清龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)出(chu)游(you)。到(dao)了正月十七落燈(deng)之夜,龍(long)(long)船和樂(le)(le)清龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)要在(zai)本村各條(tiao)龍(long)(long)船和龍(long)(long)檔(dang)(dang)能夠游(you)行(xing)(xing)的路(lu)上行(xing)(xing)一(yi)遍,這(zhe)在(zai)本地被(bei)稱為(wei)“十七夜收傷”(有降魔伏妖之意(yi)),然后(hou)(hou)把竹篾紙糊(hu)成的龍(long)(long)船燒(shao)掉,以保一(yi)方平安。
樂(le)(le)清(qing)龍(long)檔這一民間燈(deng)(deng)彩游藝活動(dong),除了(le)(le)老百(bai)姓用來(lai)娛(yu)樂(le)(le)消(xiao)閑(xian)外,還(huan)包含著人(ren)們的美好愿望——用樟木等制作龍(long)檔來(lai)消(xiao)災辟(pi)邪保平安。每年正月初(chu)十(上(shang)燈(deng)(deng))至十七夜落燈(deng)(deng)(一般(ban)都是在(zai)正月初(chu)七上(shang)燈(deng)(deng),但有(you)的初(chu)二就開始上(shang)燈(deng)(deng),樂(le)(le)清(qing)龍(long)檔提前上(shang)燈(deng)(deng),是為了(le)(le)延長(chang)燈(deng)(deng)節(jie)的活動(dong)期限(xian)),而(er)后各(ge)村都拉出自(zi)己的龍(long)檔,匯集于(yu)一起相媲美,逐(zhu)漸成(cheng)為民眾進(jin)行民間文化娛(yu)樂(le)(le)的活動(dong)形式。