挑幡表演（徐汉元  摄）

　　2008年，中幡（建瓯挑幡）被列入国家级非物质文化遗产扩展项目名录。
　　据传，建瓯挑幡起源于明末。当时，民族英雄郑成功为收复台湾，在建宁府（今建瓯市）招募士兵。建宁府城郊大洲村的造船工匠们纷纷应征入伍。
　　战争结束后，凯旋的将士们将带回来的军旗置于长竿之上挥舞，以此纪念在战场上壮烈捐躯的弟兄。后来，这个礼节逐渐演化为建瓯民间特有的挑幡习俗。
　　建瓯挑幡在幡的制作工艺上独具特色。幡杆通常选用约十米长的笔直毛竹，竿顶扎着彩灯，彩灯之下是一座用竹骨和彩绸制成的六角宝塔，四周缀挂数只小铜铃，塔底顺杆悬挂一幅锦幡。
　　表演者身着古典服饰，伴随着民间锣鼓音乐的节奏，将幡移动抛接，始终保持幡体垂直于地面。 （来源：闽同心）
　　In 2008, the Zhongfan (Jian'ou Flagpole Balanc-ing Performance) was included in the extended repre-sentative list of China's State-level intangible culturalheritage items.
　　It is said that Jian'ou Flagpole Balancing Perfor-m ance originated in the late Ming Dynasty. When thenational hero Zheng Chenggong launched his cam-paign to expel Dutch colonists and recapture Taiwan,he conscripted soldiers in Jianning Prefecture (presentday Jian'ou City). Shipbuilders from Dazhou Villageon the outskirts of Jianning flocked to enlist.
　　A fter the war, the triumphant soldiers proudlyraised their military flags on tall poles, w aving themin tribute to their fallen fellows who had made the ulti-m ate sacrifice on the battlefield. F rom then on, thecommemorative ritual gradually evolved into Jian'ou'sunique folk custom of flagpole balancing.
　　The craftsmanship of the flagpole is truly distinc-tive. The pole is typically made from a straight mosobamboo (Phyllostachys edulis, a species of timberbamboo) stalk about ten meters long. At the top of thepole, colorful lanterns are attached. Just below them isa hexagonal pagoda crafted from bamboo and silk,adorned with small copper bells. A brocade streamerembroidered with praise phrases hangs from the baseo f the pagoda.
　　Performers wear traditional attire and move withrhythmic folk drumming and gongs. W ith precisebodily control, they maneuver the towering flagpole,a ll while maintaining absolute vertical alignment.