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Image of Gou Mang, the god of Spring. [Photo/gmw.cn] |
Welcoming spring
People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. In Beijing, government officials welcomed spring in the wild field near Dongzhimen (the east gate of Beijing).
Nanyang clay sculpture works win gold medals at the Sixth Central Plains (Hebi) Cultural Industries Fair.
