"Firing five times" and "Saimo flag"

During the long-term historical development, production, life and practice, the people of Bao'an nationality have found out many entertainment sports activities that can not only improve their health but also are very interesting. "Firing five times" and "Saimo flag" are the two among them, and they are both activities on the back of horses.

"Firing five times" is a kind of sports item of finishing the tasks of filling gunpowder, smashing the fuse cap and firing for five times in succession on the back of running horses and within the provided distance. They shoot with the indigenous powder gun made by themselves. The distance is generally 200 meters. The persons that participate in this competition item must have outstanding riding technology, and also have the ability of skillfully operating and using powder guns.

At the time of competition, the riders get on the horses taking with guns, and the horses stand on the starting line. When the order is given, the horses run quickly, the riders grip the horse back with two legs, take guns with their left hands, and fill the powder, install the fuse cap and fire with their right hands, their movements are very quick and skilled, and are carried through without stopping. Because the distance is short and the horses run very fast, and there are many provided firing tasks, the competition is very intense, dangerous and fierce. In the end, the first person that reaches the terminal point and finishes the firing tasks is the winner. 

"Firing five times" is the traditional sports item that is deeply loved by the men and women, old and young of Bao'an nationality. No matter in which village among the "three inhabiting places of Bao'an nationality" are the competitions held, people will all go to watch and cheer for the riders one after another. There are no prizes and awarded money for the competitions, just the chairpersons will announce the places in the competition. But many people still always enjoy them, and enter their names to participate in the competitions enthusiastically. If any participator get the first place, and hold "ears" with cupped hands (win honors) for his village, it will be the greatest honor and happiness of him.

"Saimo flag" is a competition item that the riders finish the movements of waving a flag in five directions within the distance of 100 meters and on the back of a running horse. The flagpole is made of bamboo pieces that are twined and tied up by black cloth. They are tough and tensile, not easy to be broken off, the people of Bao'an nationality call them as "bun bamboo". The lengths are different, mostly about 3 meters. At the time of competition, the contestants stand at the starting line leading the horses, with their right hands supporting the flagpoles that are planted in the iron hole on the right of the saddles. When the competition begins, they get on the horses and run quickly, at the same time, they grasp the end of the flagpole and finish the movements of waving flagpole from right to left, from front to back, and across the head top at last, totally in five directions, with astonishing arm force and quick movements. In the end, the first contestant that reaches the terminal point and successfully finishes the movement of waving flags is the winner. Because the competition demands that the flag should be waved in five directions, it is also called as "five door flag". This is an activity item that comparing the riding technology, braveness and arm force, the winner will be deeply respected and praised.


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