Ceremony Practice Plan: Marathon Event Themed ‘Stepping on Giant Footprints' at the Site of ‘River Diagram of Big Dipple' in Sichuan Basin

Abstract (English)

A marathon event themed‘Stepping on Giant Footprints' would be held at the site of River Diagram on the birthday of FuXi(伏羲),reenacting the sacrificial ceremony for the matriarch HuaXu(华胥),extending to the commemoration of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors,and becoming an important medium for intergenerational transmission.
This is a cross-cultural interaction and strategy for creating new value,employing interdisciplinary methods from an anthropological perspective,combining ethnographic cases and new archaeological discoveries to reflect on and reconstruct ancestral culture and rituals.It explores how ritual practices of cultural heritage could stimulate social participation and strengthen national community consciousness under the background of China Dream.
The site of River Diagram is formed by the confluence of three rivers—Dadu River,Qingyi River,and Min River—in Sichuan Basin, presenting a pattern resembling the Big Dipper,considered the footprints left by deities from sky,known as‘Giant Footprints’(大迹, Daji or 大遗, DaYi),symbolizing‘the center of the world' and possessing supernatural power to govern cosmic order.It serves as the foundation of ancient Chinese astronomical observations and calendrical systems, and is the prototype of the Yellow River Diagram culture.
Ethnographic records state that HuaXu and FuXi are ancestors of the Chinese nation.HuaXu became pregnant while stepping on‘Giant Footprints’and gave birth to FuXi twelve years later.
The No.1 Bronze Tree at Sanxingdui is an astronomical model, which vividly depicted this event.HuaXu conducted significant research in the area of River Diagram,discovering 12-year orbital period of Jupiter(木星, Wood Star),and her sub-clan, FuXi, established the Jupiter calendar (‘marking time with TaiSui’), gaining the right to rule (ruling with the virtue of wood),and was referred to as the Sun God (太昊, TaiHao or 大昊, DaHao).The mask with cylindrical eyes and huge ears in Sanxingdui represented FuXi.
The tree on ZhiLe Mountain has the power of to benefit future generations（至乐山中,嘉木之樾), which reflects Song Dynasty people's remembrance the prototype of the astronomical model by this Li tree (栎木).In the site of River Diagram,ZhiLe Mountain corresponds to the Mi zar（KaiYang，开阳), Sanxingdui is ZhaoYao（招摇） after Alkaid（摇光）.No.1 Mountain is Mount Emei,and ZiWeiYuan（Heavenly Palace） TianZhu（天柱） Star and WuDiNeiZuo（五帝内座） Star to Mount Wawu and Mount Mengding respectively.They all witnessed FuXi's creation of the Eight Trigrams(八卦) and establishment of the astronomical calendar,NvWa(女娲)'s prayer for the Five Planets out of east to drive away the Five Evil Stars,and the activities of the Emperor Huang(黄帝),Great Yu(大禹),and Qi of Xia Dynasty(夏后启).
This discussion also delves into the legacy spirit of the Olympics and marathon,and how the marathon has become a new cultural phenomenon in China.‘Stepping on Giant Footprints' can boost cultural tourism,promote cultural inheritance,social cohesion,and economic development.This unique experience symbolizes the pursuit of special abilities or opportunities,inspiring people to strive for excellence and self-transcendence,such as academic success,career achievements,marital bliss,offspring prosperity,and longevity.Zhang Ning,Tu Zhi’e，Chi Zhiyuan，Wu Zengyu,Zhang Yichi and other Marathon organizers,athletes,and amateur runners,and sports coach,referee,are invited to participate in this discussion.