Anren Shenong Vernal Equinox Medicine Day which is called GanFenshe in Chinese is an activity related to Yan Emperor and participated by all the Anren people from ancient times. Anren is located in southeast of Hunan province where is the north of Chenzhou and near YanlingCounty. As it is said from the legend, Yan Emperor- Shennong had been there to create the farming tools, work on the land and teach people with cultivation, and taste different kinds of herbal medicines, so Anren kept that folk-custom from that day.
Why people called the Vernal Equinox Medicine Day as GanFenshe in Chinese? "Gan" means go to enjoy it; "Fen" is for the Vernal Equinox Day of the 24 Solar Terms; "She" is "Chunshe, Sheri" for short, while "Chunshe" is the fifth Wu date after the Beginning of Spring(1st Solar Terms) to sacrifice the Kobold and "Sheri" is the date to fete the God (Yan Emperor). "GanFenshe" can explain with one sentence that people gather together to the county town to fete the God on the Vernal Equinox Day. If we follow Anren's local language to understand the meaning, it will be like that: "Gan" shows no matter old or young, poor or wealthy, busy or free, people just take their matters aside and come to fete Yan Emperor; "Fen" indicates during that days, all the Children and grow-ups are equal to share something; "She" expresses that people gather together to attend the activities. They may meet different people, deal with some seeds, farming tools and Chinese herbal medicines, and share some experience in farming and health care, etc.. Shennong Vernal Equinox Medicine Day (GanFenshe) lasts for 3 days before/after the Vernal Equinox Day. After eating some medicinal food, people will start the Spring plunging
According to Anren County and Hunan Province historical data, the earliest record of Anren GanFenshe was 923-925A.D. of the Later Tang Dynasty, till Song and Ming Dynasty its influence was spread to the whole nation. Anren GanFenshe is with the historical, cultural and scientific value in Chinese farming and medicine culture. So far as we know, there is no other "GanFenshe" activity available in China, that's why it can attract more than 10 provinces' people, even foreigners ,who come here on purpose to attend the abundant activities as fete Yan Emperor, pray for foison and health, visit markets, purchase medicines and enjoy sceneries. In 2006. Anren GanFenshe was listed in the first batch of Hunan Provincial intangible cultural heritages.
The fact that Anren keeps GanFenshe activity for such a long time is due to its tradition of feting Yan Emperor and its unique geography place.
The main activities of GanFenshe are as follows: Yan Emperor fete, Assembly, Trade fair, and Farming after eating medicinal food.
Anren GanFenshe is with significant values in the folk-custom culture.First, it is with the value of showing Chinese self-renewal and pioneering spirits. All the ancestors feel grateful for Yan Emperor's hard work and sacrifice in creating farming and medicine and sincerely hope to follow his spirit, so they keep the fete to Yan Emperor for thousands of years.Secondly, it is with the classic county area cultural value. The basic unit of undertaking Chinese traditional culture is a county. Different kinds of histories, geographies, traffic, economies, education, nationalities, population, local languages, folk-customs, resources and sceneries, all of which form unique culture for different counties. But after thousands year's development,cultures of most counties converged, weakened, even disappeared. But Anren GanFenshe keeps its integrity till now.Thirdly, it is with the scientific value of Chinese medicine. Trade fair is one of the most important parts of GanFenshe. In the fair, abundant Chinese herbal medicines are exchanged there. It shows that Chinese people is still keen on the use of Chinese medicine in this modern time.Forth, it is with the economy value. It automatically formatted an economy move on its trade part of exchanging Chinese medicine business, which is very important for an agriculture county.Fifth, it is with native folk culture value. Compared with environment of modern oelectron era, Anren GanFenshe keeps its natural and clear native folk culture with the "living fossil" characteristic to attract people's attention.