Medicine market custom (Baiquan Medicine Association)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: custom of medicine market (Baiquan Medicine Association)

Applicant: Huixian City, Henan Province

Item No.: 508

Project No.: Ⅹ - 60

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Henan Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Huixian City, Henan Province

Protection unit: Huixian Cultural Center

Introduction to the custom of medicine market (Baiquan Medicine Association)

Applicant: Huixian City, Henan Province

The medicine market is a trade fair held regularly in the traditional Chinese medicine distribution centers with historical origins. There are more than 110 traditional Chinese medicine distribution centers formed in the past dynasties, among which there are extensive influence in the whole country. The four major medicine markets are Anguo, Zhangshu, Baiquan and Yucheng, with complete functions of collecting, planting, manufacturing and using, and large distribution volume.

Yaowang fair is a type of traditional temple fair, which appeared in Tang Dynasty. Sun Simiao, a famous doctor, is the God of traditional Chinese medicine and is respected as the "king of medicine". In addition, there were other famous doctors who were regarded as the "king of medicine" in a certain region in history. The temple fair with the king of medicine as the God of belief is called "the king of medicine fair". Most famous medicine markets developed from the king of medicine fair, and some originated from the market trade of medicinal materials.

In addition to the trading of medicinal materials, each pharmaceutical market has formed its own trading rules, sacrificial rites, opera performances, entertainment activities and other folk customs, which attract the participation and appreciation of the masses outside the traders, making the pharmaceutical market an influential local mass gathering place.

Baiquan Medicine Association is popular in Baiquan, one kilometer northwest of Huixian City, Henan Province. It originated from the sacrificial activities of river god in Weiyuan temple in the fourth year of Daye (608) of Sui Dynasty. By the time of emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty, the scale of sacrificial activities was further expanded and the content of material transaction was gradually added. Because Taihang mountain area is rich in medicinal materials, the trade of medicinal materials has become an important activity of temple fair. In the eighth year of Hongwu (1375) of Ming Dynasty, the temple fair was approved and supported by the government, and the trade of medicinal materials became the main content of the temple fair, so the temple fair became a medicine fair. In the 57th year of Kangxi (1718) of the Qing Dynasty, pharmacists from all over the country donated money to build the Yaowang temple, and held the Yaowang temple fair in the first month of every year. Baiquan medicine fair gradually evolved into one of the three major medicine fairs in China.

Besides the exchange of medicinal materials, there are also distinctive activities of offering sacrifices to the king of medicine at the temple fair, among which local folk activities such as "releasing ducks" and "sending river lanterns" have a great influence on the local people.

In recent years, due to the rapid development of science and technology, the increasingly convenient transportation and communication, coupled with the impact of Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine culture and local folk culture are declining day by day. As a result, Baiquan Pharmaceutical Association is facing a survival crisis and needs to be protected.