天津皇会为祭祀妈祖的传统民俗活动，创始于元代，现为首批国家非物质文化遗产项目，本书采用源头式记录，以口述史为方法，立足于田野作业，结合视觉人类学、民俗学、社会学等多种学科，对老艺人的口头记忆和身体技艺进行采录，力图对天津皇会进行立档、研究和保存。

天津皇会为祭祀妈祖的传统民俗活动，创始于元代，现为首批国家非物质文化遗产项目，本书采用源头式记录，以口述史为方法，立足于田野作业，结合视觉人类学、民俗学、社会学等多种学科，对老艺人的口头记忆和身体技艺进行采录，力图对天津皇会进行立档、研究和保存。

Tianjin,pioneering seaport metropolis,city of inventive past and unique culture. Inspired,perhaps,by the danc-ing waters of the Bohai Gulf,Tianjin became:a naval piomeer-birth-place of modren shipyards and China's first submarine;a commu-mications piomeer-a post-route to all parts and home of China'sfirstrailway,postal service,cables and telephones;a cultural pioneer-with China's first university degree,musenm ,women's newspaper;a financial pioneerwith its own "Wall Street",and industrial pioneer with world-class innovations. But piomeering has not ob-literated tradition-Tianuin is a city of legend and age-old customs and cuisine-neveer more so than at Chi-nese New Year. These elements unite to make the commercial metropolis and major port ot Tianjin,with600years of unique history and innovation,Tianjin is respomding with con-fidence to the challenges of the 21 st century.