The art of releasing pigeons in flight in Dục Tú village

Among many folk games, pigeon-release contests are one of the most difficult and demanding games for players. Players must select suitable pigeons and train them to fly in a certain formation. Players must understand pigeons well and have years of experience to select and train birds for the contest. Although it takes effort and much time, this folk game is extremely interesting and is a passion for many people; among them, elderly men are the most experienced in pigeon-release competitions.

In 1992, as many as 128 flocks of pigeons in the village and neighboring areas came to attend the pigeon contest in Dục Tú. At the festival, flags and fans were planted in the communal house yard, most notably a red brocade flag embroidered with six golden words “Righteous bird, first among the flock” hung solemnly beneath the eaves of the communal house veranda. That was the first prize to be awarded to the leading flock that year. Those participating in the contest competed for the prize “Righteous bird, first among the flock”, at the contest, upon hearing the organizers’ announcement, the contestant released the cage so the pigeons could fly; the flock that flew most beautifully would win the prize. The judges of the contest were elderly men experienced in this game.

The Dục Tú pigeon-release contest attracted contestants because the prize’s prestige was very great. The winner of the “Righteous bird, first among the flock” prize was not only famous, but the pigeons he raised would be a very sought-after type of decoy bird for enthusiasts.

The inner station is inside, the outer station is outside (inner ring, outer ring) to monitor and score the contesting flocks fairly. The outer station is the gathering place for the contest pigeon cages. Two parasols are set up: one shades the station keeper, one is for contestants with birds to bring them in turn and wait for release. The parasol site is an open place so judges and spectators can easily look up at the sky and follow the flying pigeons. The keeper of the outer station is a shrewd, robust old man, with a red muslin scarf wrapped around his head, a black belt around his waist, and a drumstick in his hand, beating now slowly, now quickly, now in a rolling rhythm according to the direction and speed of the flying flock.

The inner station is a group of other elderly men on the judging panel; they choose a family near the communal house with a large yard, convenient for watching the flock’s flight path from the most suitable angle for scoring. There, in the middle of the yard, they place a large basin of water like a clear mirror that can reflect the flock clearly in the sky.

The organizers clearly announced the contest rules and designated the release point and flight direction so that pigeon owners could calculate how to guide their flocks. One by one the owners entered the contest amid the noisy, bustling sound of spectators crowding in inner and outer rings around the starting point.

A long table is placed under the parasol shading the pigeon owner, for setting down the pigeon cage before release. When the loudspeaker calls, the owner brings his cage to the wooden table. He slowly unties the cord with one hand, and with the other holds a paper fan, waving it both to soothe and prepare the flock and to gather them close; at the most suitable moment he opens the cage so they can spread their wings. The five-beat drum sounds rapidly. Out of the cage, the flock tilts and flies a circle around the communal house pond, then follows the lead bird upward into the formation they have practiced before. At this point the drum stops its rolling beat and strikes three times evenly. How the cage is opened depends on each owner’s training method. Some place the birds in the cage and then toss it open so they fly up, or cover it tightly and then suddenly open and urge them out. Each person has his own way.

When they hear three drumbeats at the outer station, the inner station also strikes three drumbeats in reply as a handover and follows the flock. All judges gather at the inner station to watch the shadow of the flying flock in the large basin of water in the middle of the yard. Any flock that flies slightly askew is called “minor side”, any flock that flies in a long stretched formation is called “long formation”. The most beautiful flying flock must gather into a single mass in the shape of an upright spiral, leaving only one large spot on the water basin; that is “rising straight and centered”, which means achieving first place in the festival. When a flock has flown too high and far from the area, that flock’s turn ends. A signal drum sounds so the outer station can use the loudspeaker to call the next flock for its turn. This continues until the last flock, to classify first, second, and third places.

The flock that achieves “rising straight and centered” is the flock that takes the “Righteous bird, first among the flock” prize; the owner receives the flag amid the enthusiastic cheers of the people. The winner of this prize is very honored and happy.

However, to achieve a prize-winning flock, the owner must spend countless effort, money, and months caring for and training the pigeons. To have a flock of 8–10 birds, the player must select from 30–40 birds, taking purebred ones and caring for them from hatching, feeding them sesame, beans, and ground rice. When the pigeons have fledged and grown enough feathers, they must be plucked bare so new feathers grow. After each such time, they must be tended for months so the birds recover their strength. The owner must be a very passionate and patient person to do this. Therefore, the pigeon-release contest of the past was truly a pastime for refined people.