The floral accessory headdress of Xunpu women. [Photo/fujian-szwhg.chaoxing.com]

Xunpu women are primarily found in the communities of Xunpu, Jinqi, Houbu, and Dongmei in Donghai subdistrict, Fengze district, Quanzhou city. The customs of Xunpu women, including production, life practices, and folk beliefs, have been recognized as a representative national intangible cultural heritage item under the category of folk customs.

Living by the sea and being adept in water-related activities, Xunpu women hold a deep reverence for the sea goddess, Mazu. The annual Matsu pilgrimage ceremony on the ninth day of the third lunar month is a significant folk event with rich traditions. In terms of life practices, their marriage customs maintain traditional Minnan characteristics, with rituals involving the exchange of flowers from engagement to marriage.

The attire of Xunpu women prioritizes practicality, featuring simple and loose-fitting garments designed for easy movement during labor. They typically wear coarse cloth outfits with a diagonal lapel, wide sleeves, and a right lapel, which are well-suited for fishing, as they are durable, resistant to entanglement in fishing nets, impervious to seawater, and easy to clean. Additionally, they wear wide black cloth pants for convenience while carrying loads at the seaside.

Xunpu women traditionally keep their hair long from a young age, styling it into a round bun at the back of their head in adulthood and adorning it with a floral wreath. Their unique earrings are used as a significant indicator of age and marital status, playing a key role in distinguishing between different generations of Xunpu women.

The customs of Xunpu women, passed down for centuries, carry a rich traditional cultural essence. However, with advancements in productivity, increased cultural education, and accelerated urbanization, some of these customs face the risk of abandonment today.

The traditional Xunpu women's attire in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. [Photo/fujian-szwhg.chaoxing.com]