The activity of walking through the nine-zigzag is a kind of folk art, which is unique to the rural areas of Yan'an, Shaanxi. The activity has its religious and superstitious touch, as it is a memorial ceremony for Laozi ( the Taoism philosopher). Local people call it “walking through the nine-zigzag” or “celebrate the Taoism”. Now, with the development of the society, many places have turned it into a popular recreational activity. It is performed together with Yangko dance and Shehuo (a general term for all the festival activities). To perform the nine-zigzag, the local people need to select a spacious flat, where 367 sorghum stalks（the pillars) can form a square diagram array, all in the same distances. Then the pillars will be connected with the sorghum stalks in a particular way, forming the crooked routes among the stalks. People walk through the stalks, then turn back, with nine zigzags for each route. Every time people turn back, they move a step further to the central area of the array. Each of the 367 families will donate an oil lamp, which will be put on the pillar. The central pillar can settle 7 oil lamps, which are called Mild Seven Lamp. The lamp is made from the hollow-out green radish which is filled with hemp seed oil. Using cottons as the lamp wick, the lamp can be used for lighting. The nine zigzag is like a huge city wall, with twisted corridors. The big city wall can be further divided into 9 small city walls. The approaches and runs of the small walls are different, so the nine-zigzag is also called “Nine-zigzag Yellow River Array”. In fact, the nine zigzag is a form of Taoist “Tai ji Diagram” (the “yin-yang”symbol). A big Tai ji Diagram contains 9 smaller Tai ji Diagrams. The activity of walking through the nine zigzag is held mainly in night. When the night falls, the host will yell “light up”! 367 oil lamps will be lighted at the same time, making the site as bright as the day. Then the walking through of nine-zigzag begins, drums beaten and Yangko performed, the local people step into the nine-zigzag under the guide of the trumpeters. Everyone in the village will participate in the activity and get through all the twists of the zigzag, even if the sick ones. In local people’s opinion, one can be safe and sound throughout the year as long as they walk through the nine-zigzags. After walking through the nine-zigzags, the activity of “stealing the lamp” begins. Everyone could “steal”an oil lamp, hiding it under the armpit and bring it home. Then the lamp will be hung on the door frame, praying for permanent peace. the “stealing of lamp” has a special meaning for women who haven’t given birth to child. To them, stealing the lamp means “steal”a baby back.
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