九莲灯（盐镇九连灯）

申报地区：宜阳县 2020年08月 第4批扩展项目

九莲灯是一项传统的民间舞蹈形式，在宜阳县盐镇乡普遍流传。九莲灯由八人舞动32盏莲灯，一人舞动孔雀灯或鲤鱼灯，九人共舞，故称九莲灯。同时，有伴舞和鼓乐、唢呐伴奏。

九莲灯起源非常早，据传始于唐代，宜阳县盐镇九莲灯创始于清朝乾隆年间，怀庆府人赵文涛从老家请来两位九莲灯师傅传授，在传承人焦凤池带领下，九莲灯开始在盐镇及周边村落流传。

九莲灯属于大型群体舞蹈，人员众多，表演时候彩灯飞舞，竹马奔腾，鼓乐齐鸣，一片祥和欢乐气氛。九莲灯的灯形似莲花，每盏灯有4至5个花瓣，中间固定一根自制石蜡。两盏一组置于二尺长的木板上，执灯人两手执4盏灯。另有一人双手执两盏鲤鱼灯，或一盏孔雀灯。演出时，鲤鱼灯、大鱼灯在九莲灯中穿行，或孔雀灯和32盏莲花灯翻飞变换出各种图案，因为以灯为主，所以九莲灯演出最好在晚上。其代表作有《鱼闹莲》、《孔雀戏牡丹》等。

九莲灯既有赏心悦目的莲花灯、孔雀灯，又有跨马的各色戏剧人物，给人以正气凛然四海升平的艺术美感。九莲灯传承千年而不衰，成为群众喜闻乐见的娱乐活动，反映了中原地区广大人民群众的生活和智慧，具有很高的民族文化价值。

Jiuliandeng Dance is a traditional folk dance, which is widely spread in Yanzhen Township, Yiyang County. The dance is called the Nine Lotus lanterns Dance because it consists of eight people waving with 32 lotus lanterns and one person waving with a peacock lantern or a carp lantern. At the same time, there are dancing, drums, and suona accompaniment. It' s said that the Jiuliandeng Dance originated in Tang Dynasty. The Jiuliandeng Dance in Yanzhen Township, Yiyang County was founded in Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty (1736-1796). Zhao Wentao, a person from Huaiqing Prefecture, invited two Jiuliandeng Dance masters from his hometown to give careful guidance. Under the guidance of Jiao Fengchi, the main inheritor, the Jiuliandeng Dance in Yanzhen Township began to spread in Yanzhen Township and surrounding villages. Jiuliandeng Dance belongs to the large-scale group dance which has numerous performers. During the performance time, the colorful lantern dances, the galloping bamboo horses and the drum music unison show a peaceful and joyful atmosphere. Jiuliandeng Dance not only has the pleasing lotus lanterns and peacock lanterns, but also has the various kinds of drama characters on horseback giving people the art aesthetic feeling with dignity and honour. Jiuliandeng Dance has been inherited for thousands of years and has become a popular entertainment activity for the masses, which reflects the life and wisdom of the masses in the Central Plains and has a high national cultural value.