| Wuchuan | |
| Other Name: | Wuchwan |
| Settlement Type: | County-level city |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Pushpin Map: | China Guangdong |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Guangdong |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | People's Republic of China |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Guangdong |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture-level city |
| Subdivision Name2: | Zhanjiang |
| Area Total Km2: | 848 |
| Population Total: | 907,354 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Coordinates: | 21.441°N 110.779°W |
| Timezone: | China Standard |
| Utc Offset: | +8 |
Wuchuan is a county-level city in southwestern Guangdong province, China. It is the easternmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Zhanjiang. Wuchuan covers an area of 848sqkm, with an population of 907,354 as of 2020.[1]
Under the Sui dynasty, Wuchuan was a small county known as Wujiang located along the Jian River. During the Qing dynasty, Wuchuan was administered from Gaozhou Commandery. (now a county-level city within the neighboring Maoming Prefecture). On May 26, 1994, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China approved the elevation of Wuchuan County to county-level city status and placed it under the administration of Zhanjiang.
Wuchuan is located on the Jian River where it flows into the South China Sea, on the eastern coast of the Leizhou Peninsula. It borders Zhanjiang's Potou District to the west, Lianjiang to the southwest, Huazhou to the north, and the Maoming districts of Maonan and Dianbai to the east and northeast. The time zone for Wuchuan, as with all locations in the People's Republic of China, is Beijing Time (GMT +8).
Three main language varieties are spoken in Wuchuan.[2]
In Zhanjiang's northern downtown districts, the spoken language is primarily Cantonese, while Leizhou Min is the prestige language in Mazhang District, Leizhou City, and other nearby counties. The dialect spoken in Lianjiang County is Hakka.
The Jianjiang drainage basin is a region where people of Han nationality and other Baiyue ethnic groups have lived together throughout history. Local authorities subordinated to a central government of Han nationality have existed since the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The establishment of local governments such as Luzhou and Gaozhou and their close relationships with Guangzhou have promoted the Hanization of the local Baiyue ethnic groups, leading to the formation of Wuchuan-Huazhou Cantonese, a dialect of Chinese.[3]
Piaose is a significant folk art form from Guangdong province. Over time, it has largely disappeared from many areas, but it continues to be an integral part of life and culture in Wuchuan. Wuchuan Piaose holds substantial aesthetic, artistic, and humanistic value. It incorporates distinctive imagery based on its origins and composition. However, Wuchuan Piaose also faces challenges from foreign cultural influences, funding issues, publicity, and the need for artistic innovation.
In July 2009, the Wuchuan Piaose team was invited to participate in the Chengdu International Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival.
Clay sculpture is considered an "original art" form, with its ancient origins reflecting its status as one of the earliest human arts. Clay sculpture not only documents folk life but also creates a vibrant artistic space. The regional and stable nature of clay sculpture art represents the values and aesthetic experiences of its people. Protecting its "cultural difference" and aesthetic diversity is crucial for the preservation and survival of contemporary clay sculpture art in China.[4]
Years-cases are traditional activities unique to western Guangdong, centered around local deities. This festival features elaborate sacrificial ceremonies and rituals that are performed as a unified event. Years-cases consist of four main components: the gods of years-cases, the rituals, the opera, and the feast.
The gods of years-cases form the core of the festival. This chapter focuses on the evolution of the gods' images, which have become increasingly complex. There are two major patterns in the changes of these images: one involves the combination of multiple gods' images, while the other features different gods within the same ritual. These changes reflect the evolving ideas and concepts of the community.
The parade of gods is the most crucial part of the years-cases ritual, embodying the community's culture and beliefs. Field surveys of Beiyue village's rituals will be used as examples to examine these patterns. Further studies are planned on the secularization and commercialization of years-cases.
The opera of years-cases primarily involves nighttime performances. The ritual and opera must complement each other, with actors also serving as priests. The opera allegorizes the themes of years-cases.
The feast of years-cases is also a ritual, where food is symbolically consumed. This process reflects local eating habits and supports the pig and poultry industries in Wuchuan.[5]
As of 2013, Wuchuan has 468 schools at all levels, including 1 teacher training school, 11 middle schools, and 296 primary schools. The total student enrollment is 206,202, comprising 97,778 high school students, 77,179 primary school students, and a number of nursery school students.