世界上唯一的鱼葬村 A village fish treated as friend not food

Photo of Puyuan village, Zhouning County, southeast China's Fujian Province, taken on November 13, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Leiying]

Liyu Brook, or Carp brook(鲤鱼溪), is a scenic spot located in Zhouning County(周宁县), southeast China's Fujian Province.

Photo of Puyuan village, Zhouning County, southeast China's Fujian Province, taken on November 13, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Leiying]

The 300-meter-long river runs through an ancient village called Puyuan(浦源村), which is famous for a unique(独一无二的) tradition(传统) of protecting(保护) carp. Although carp are famed as food(食物) in China, locals in Puyan village treat(对待) them like old friends(朋友). Villagers say they would rather starve(挨饿) than kill the fish. People in the village will even hold funeral ceremonies(葬礼) for dead carp. A carp grave(坟墓) site is located in village, said to be the only one in the world.

Photo of Puyuan village, Zhouning County, southeast China's Fujian Province, taken on November 13, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Leiying]

Through the years, the brook has become a heaven(天堂) for the freshwater fish. Today, there are now thousands of colorful carp in the water.

The tradition dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) when villagers' ancestors(祖先) put carp into the creek as an easy and visible way to test water quality(水质). At the same time, a rule(规则) was adopted to protect the fish.

Photo of Puyuan village, Zhouning County, southeast China's Fujian Province, taken on November 13, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Leiying]

The 800-year-old tradition has been followed from generation to generation(代), which is now enshrined as intangible cultural heritage(非物质文化遗产) in Fujian Province.

Photo of Puyuan village, Zhouning County, southeast China's Fujian Province, taken on November 13, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Leiying]

词汇 Words:

[chuán tǒng] 传统 tradition
[shí wù] 食物 food
[péng yǒu] 朋友 friend
[tiān táng] 天堂 heaven
[fén mù] 坟墓 grave
[bǎo hù] 保护 protect
[duì dài] 对待 treat
[āi è] 挨饿 starve

重点词汇 Key word:

传 <动词 v.>

• Pass (on); hand down
  E.g. Zhèzhǒng xísú shì cóng 14shìjì chuán xiàlái de。
  这种习俗是从14世纪传下来的。
  This custom has been carried down from the 14th century.

• Spread; circulate
  E.g. Yáoyán yī chuán shí,shí chuán bǎi。
  谣言一传十,十传百。
  The rumours multiplied.

• Transmit; conduct
  E.g. Shuǐ bǐ kōngqì néng gènghǎo de chuán shēng。
  水比空气能更好地传声。
  Water transmits sound better than air.

• Infect
  E.g. Nǐ bǎ gǎnmào chuánrǎn gěi wǒ le。
  你把感冒传染给我了。
  You've given me your cold.