明末清初,廣東(dong)著名學者屈大(da)均(jun)《廣東(dong)新語》記載:“廣中龍(long)(long)船惟東(dong)莞最(zui)(zui)盛,自(zi)五月朔至晦,鄉(xiang)鄉(xiang)有(you)(you)之。”東(dong)莞“五月時洪(hong)流(liu)滂濞,放於百里(li),鄉(xiang)人為龍(long)(long)舟之會(hui),觀者畫(hua)船云(yun)合,首尾相銜,士(shi)女如(ru)山,乘潮上下(xia),日已暮而未散。”有(you)(you)如(ru)此最(zui)(zui)盛大(da)的龍(long)(long)舟活(huo)動,必有(you)(you)最(zui)(zui)盛大(da)的龍(long)(long)舟制作(zuo)。大(da)汾(fen)村紅花(hua)廟(miao)尚(shang)存明代制作(zuo)的“飛龍(long)(long)”龍(long)(long)船頭,即(ji)可(ke)為證。
出于對龍(long)的(de)(de)崇拜,歷代在龍(long)舟的(de)(de)制(zhi)作上都相當(dang)講(jiang)究(jiu)。當(dang)年(nian)隋(sui)煬(yang)帝為下(xia)(xia)江南而造的(de)(de)龍(long)舟可算是歷史上最(zui)豪華的(de)(de)“龍(long)舟”之一了,據載該船(chuan)高四十五尺(chi),長二百(bai)尺(chi),共四層,一百(bai)二十間房,簡直(zhi)可以媲美(mei)當(dang)今的(de)(de)海上游輪了。這艘(sou)龍(long)舟后(hou)被燒(shao)毀,隋(sui)煬(yang)帝又(you)下(xia)(xia)令造一艘(sou)更大的(de)(de)龍(long)舟,被稱為“天子之舟”。
端午(wu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟一般(ban)分為龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)、龍(long)(long)(long)(long)身、龍(long)(long)(long)(long)骨(gu)、龍(long)(long)(long)(long)尾(wei)四部(bu)分,外加槳(jiang)和舵。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟制(zhi)(zhi)作要(yao)求(qiu)很高,要(yao)請(qing)(qing)專(zhuan)門(men)的(de)(de)木(mu)(mu)工(gong)師傅,擇日開(kai)工(gong),據傳過去在(zai)動工(gong)前還(huan)須齋戒沐浴、焚香、拜(bai)神(shen),一點也(ye)(ye)不(bu)能(neng)馬虎(hu)。木(mu)(mu)料(liao)要(yao)選用(yong)上等的(de)(de),且(qie)多采用(yong)大木(mu)(mu)料(liao)來(lai)(lai)制(zhi)(zhi)作,如(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭(tou),一般(ban)須用(yong)整(zheng)塊的(de)(de)檜木(mu)(mu)來(lai)(lai)雕刻,以(yi)求(qiu)靈(ling)氣十(shi)足,至于船(chuan)體(ti),則多采用(yong)樟(zhang)(zhang)木(mu)(mu)來(lai)(lai)做,因為樟(zhang)(zhang)木(mu)(mu)能(neng)防(fang)蟲防(fang)腐(fu),經久(jiu)耐用(yong)。制(zhi)(zhi)作講究的(de)(de)還(huan)用(yong)整(zheng)木(mu)(mu)將龍(long)(long)(long)(long)尾(wei)雕刻出(chu)許(xu)多鱗甲。制(zhi)(zhi)成的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟再配以(yi)各色濃妝,使之(zhi)更(geng)加栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)生。用(yong)傳統材料(liao)(樟(zhang)(zhang)、檜等)和傳統方法(接(jie)榫處全用(yong)木(mu)(mu)針而不(bu)用(yong)鋼釘)制(zhi)(zhi)作一艘龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟,花費不(bu)少(shao)。所(suo)以(yi),從(cong)擁有(you)的(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟的(de)(de)檔次就(jiu)可窺出(chu)當地人(ren)的(de)(de)經濟實(shi)力。一些少(shao)數民族也(ye)(ye)有(you)獨木(mu)(mu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟,只是那(nei)樣(yang)的(de)(de)大樹就(jiu)更(geng)難找了,也(ye)(ye)較浪費木(mu)(mu)材。現今也(ye)(ye)有(you)用(yong)玻璃纖維材料(liao)來(lai)(lai)做的(de)(de),既(ji)環保又(you)方便,但尚不(bu)能(neng)普(pu)及(ji)。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟的(de)(de)長度也(ye)(ye)有(you)講究,廣東人(ren)造龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟多取(qu)好意(yi)頭(tou)的(de)(de)尺寸,譬如(ru)船(chuan)長33.88米,寓意(yi)“生生猛猛”。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟的(de)(de)船(chuan)身(龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)卸下(xia))平時多是沉放在(zai)河塘的(de)(de)淤泥(ni)中,以(yi)防(fang)干裂,也(ye)(ye)符合“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)生大澤”的(de)(de)傳聞(wen)。每年只有(you)到了端午(wu)時節才“請(qing)(qing)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)出(chu)水”。
龍(long)舟的結構分為(wei)龍(long)頭(tou)、龍(long)尾、龍(long)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)、龍(long)腸、冚板諸部分。“傳(chuan)(chuan)統龍(long)”有28.8米(mi)長、1.50米(mi)寬(kuan),“國際(ji)龍(long)”只有15.8米(mi)長、1.05米(mi)寬(kuan)。制作(zuo)龍(long)舟,從開(kai)料(liao)、選龍(long)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(底骨(gu)(gu)(gu))、起水(拗彎(wan)龍(long)骨(gu)(gu)(gu),呈流線型)到(dao)刨(bao)光、打磨、上色(se),最后安裝龍(long)頭(tou)、安裝尾舵等(deng)工序,一件完整的龍(long)舟才算完成,一般需要六七天。 要求,進一步(bu)貫徹“保(bao)護為(wei)主、搶救第一、合理利(li)用、傳(chuan)(chuan)承發(fa)展”的工作(zuo)方針,認真做好非物質文化(hua)遺(yi)產的保(bao)護、管理工作(zuo),為(wei)弘揚中華(hua)文化(hua),推動社(she)會主義文化(hua)大發(fa)展大繁榮作(zuo)出新的貢獻。
從(cong)良木(mu)到龍舟,仍需和(he)數百年前一樣,歷經數十道工(gong)序,需要6個工(gong)人同(tong)時做(zuo)工(gong),花(hua)費20天時間(jian),釘(ding)入上(shang)百斤鐵釘(ding),耗去6立方(fang)木(mu)材(cai),無數次(ci)手工(gong)的(de)打磨、撫平和(he)拼接,方(fang)成為龍形,這種民間(jian)傳(chuan)統的(de)手工(gong)制作龍舟方(fang)法一直(zhi)延續至(zhi)今。
中國是(shi)龍(long)(long)之鄉(xiang)(xiang),也是(shi)龍(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之鄉(xiang)(xiang),龍(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)競(jing)(jing)渡有(you)數千年歷史。龍(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)是(shi)龍(long)(long)之化(hua)(hua)身,龍(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)是(shi)龍(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)競(jing)(jing)渡的(de)載體。龍(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)制作不(bu)僅關(guan)(guan)系競(jing)(jing)渡的(de)比賽,更關(guan)(guan)系到(dao)歷史的(de)傳(chuan)承,傳(chuan)統(tong)文化(hua)(hua)的(de)發揚光大。
東莞市是(shi)典型(xing)的(de)水鄉,從(cong)明(ming)代(dai)起就是(shi)廣東主要競渡(du)(du)的(de)地(di)區(qu),其歷史悠久。現在,中(zhong)(zhong)堂鎮已被中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)協會授予“中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)之鄉”。龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)競技越(yue)來(lai)越(yue)受(shou)到(dao)(dao)當地(di)民眾的(de)歡迎(ying),龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)需求量也不(bu)斷增加(jia)。隨著龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)制作工藝水平的(de)提高(gao),龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)競渡(du)(du)更加(jia)得到(dao)(dao)了發(fa)揚和傳承。
龍舟作為民(min)俗文化中(zhong)的(de)(de)重要組成部(bu)分是中(zhong)華民(min)族的(de)(de)一個文化符號。中(zhong)堂有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)規(gui)模的(de)(de)賽(sai)龍舟已有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)一百(bai)五(wu)(wu)十(shi)年歷(li)史。每踏進(jin)農歷(li)五(wu)(wu)月(yue),中(zhong)堂鎮江面上(shang)就(jiu)會(hui)歡呼聲震(zhen)天、鑼鼓聲動地(di)。中(zhong)堂龍舟景(jing)既有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)“趁景(jing)”(即自由競渡),也有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)錦標賽(sai);分別有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)五(wu)(wu)月(yue)初(chu)(chu)(chu)二的(de)(de)斗朗,初(chu)(chu)(chu)四的(de)(de)槎窖,初(chu)(chu)(chu)六的(de)(de)潢(huang)涌、江南,初(chu)(chu)(chu)八的(de)(de)馬瀝,五(wu)(wu)月(yue)十(shi)三(san)的(de)(de)中(zhong)堂等(deng)上(shang)規(gui)模的(de)(de)景(jing)點,它(ta)們從農歷(li)五(wu)(wu)月(yue)初(chu)(chu)(chu)二到五(wu)(wu)月(yue)十(shi)三(san)吸引大批(pi)的(de)(de)觀眾前去觀看(kan),是一項很好的(de)(de)全民(min)健身運動。
在(zai)國務(wu)院公(gong)布的(de)“第二批(pi)(pi)國家(jia)級非(fei)物質文(wen)(wen)化遺產名錄”和(he)“第一(yi)批(pi)(pi)國家(jia)級非(fei)物質文(wen)(wen)化遺產擴展項目名錄”中,東莞市龍舟制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝(yi)入選。在(zai)本次公(gong)布的(de)兩批(pi)(pi)非(fei)物質文(wen)(wen)化遺產中,龍舟制(zhi)作(zuo)技藝(yi)是東莞唯一(yi)上榜項目。
1、建立保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)。在東莞(guan)市中堂鎮的斗朗、東向設(she)保(bao)護(hu)區(qu)。
2、對中(zhong)堂龍(long)舟制作進行普查(cha)挖掘、整(zheng)理,工藝流程編寫(xie)存檔等(deng)。
3、對龍舟(zhou)制作工藝進行保護,把龍舟(zhou)制作過程、工藝、材料、流程、工序(xu)進行拍攝記(ji)錄(lu)。
4、對龍舟制(zhi)作傳承人的保護,對老師傅進行登記、建(jian)檔(dang),建(jian)立(li)傳承人生活保障機制(zhi)和傳承人培養制(zhi)度。