The "Er Yue Er" (Second Day of the Second Lunar Month) Arena Temple Fair in Weiyuan Town

The "Er Yue Er" (Second Day of the Second Lunar Month) Arena Temple Fair in Weiyuan Town

The "Er Yue Er" (Second Day of the Second Lunar Month) Arena Temple Fair is a cultural tourism attraction.

The "Er Yue Er" (Second Day of the Second Lunar Month) Arena Temple Fair in Weiyuan Town

The county seat of Huzhu County, Weiyuan Town’s Dasilu Village, has a traditional custom of holding an arena temple fair on the second day of the second lunar month every year. Historical records indicate that before the Song Dynasty, the area around Weiyuan Town was called "Nuoshudu" (a local term meaning forested region), and during the Song Dynasty, it was renamed "Mu-", as a military stronghold—a place frequently involved in warfare. The custom of holding arena contests began around the Song Dynasty, initially as martial arts competitions, hence the name "Arena Fair."

The traditional Weiyuan Town "Er Yue Er" Arena Temple Fair includes five sub-events: the Leizu Fair, the Arena Fair, the "Hua'er" Fair, - and the Mountain Produce Market. Passed down to this day, it has evolved into a folk activity featuring opera performances and "Hua'er" singing. During the temple fair period, Tujia people from dozens of surrounding areas gather here to perform operas, sing "Hua'er," spin the "Lunziqiu" (a traditional swing), dance the "Anzhao," hold horse races, wrestling matches, and martial arts demonstrations, turning it into a grand festival of culture, sports, entertainment, and competition.

The Weiyuan Town "Er Yue Er" Arena Temple Fair preserves well the folk art and traditional sports of the Tujia people, carrying numerous cultural elements. It holds significant importance for understanding the local customs, specialties, ways of life, production methods, and religious beliefs of the Huzhu Tujia. Currently, due to the impact of modern economic and cultural influences, its original cultural content and forms have been gradually diminishing, evolving into a modern trade fair. It is in urgent need of rescue and preservation. (