The living Drunken Dragon : Macao’s fishmonger community and the Feast of the Drunken Dragon and the Lion Dance Gala

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate an ICH that can be more clearly articulated as a “living cultural heritage” under UNESCO’s definition by taking stakeholders in a community for identifying and understanding their associated traditional festival. Using the Macao Feast of the Drunken Dragon and the Lion Dance Gala and the Almirante Lacerda Municipal Market as the case, the investigation is by means of analysing primary data from semi-structured interviews, conducting questionnaires with multi-stakeholders, the author seeks to discuss how this approach can better reflect UNESCO’s four characteristics of Intangible Cultural Heritage and other social practices, rituals and festive events for future research. Previous studies reveal the attitudes and perceptions of the organizers, performers, and residents are the major groups in sustaining the tangible as well as intangible expressions of the Macao Feast of the Drunken Dragon and the Lion Dance Gala. As an annual event organized by the Macao Fishmongers’ Association, the organizers and performers from three generations who are directly engaged in the Feast have agreed that all of the tangible elements ought to remain in the same way as the original interpretation passed on from their ancestors. Not much study has been done on the relationship between the Feast and the Almirante Lacerda Municipal Market, nor the lack of understanding in the history of how the Feast has been rooted in the Market. Thus, the current study also provides empirical evidence for the conservation management plan of the associated local market. To address the absence of solid festival guidelines resulting from the lack of research and documentation on the relationship of the Almirante Lacerda Municipal Market (commonly known as the “Red Market”) and its associated intangible traditional festival, and the impact of the commodification of traditional festival, this dissertation will start by conveying the story of the fishmongers’ community, and locals who associated with the Red Market, aiming to further understand the connection between the market and the Macao Feast of the Drunken Dragon and the Lion Dance Gala from a community angle. Ultimately, it aims to formulate a community-based approach to understand and sustain the Intangible Cultural Heritage of particular traditional festivals.