On the first day of the Year of the Rooster, locals in central Henan Province queued in front of Yue Fei temple in Huai Yang, for a chance to beat a sculpture that they hoped would bring them health in the New Year.

During the Song dynasty (12th Century), an official named Qin Hui persecuted and executed Yue Fei – another official who fought for the Song dynasty during the war against the Jin Dynasty. Temples were built to commemorate Yue Fei’s sacrifice, while sculptures of Qin Hui were set up outside to condemn his betrayal.

Those who come to worship Yue Fei generally beat Qin Hui’s sculpture and people started to believe they could transfer disease to the man if they beat his sculpture. This has now become a tradition, as people pray for better health in the New Year.