Yunnan is a realm of song and dance, famous both at
home and abroad. Folk music in Yunnan can be dated back to the
Warring States Period(475-221BC )in the West Han Dynasty
(206BC-25), with unearthed bronze musical instruments as evidence.
These bronze instruments include shengs (a reed pipe wind
instrument ), cymbals, chimes, bronze drums, gongs, and calabash
shengs. The type of instruments found gives us an idea of the form
of music at that time. Folk songs either had a single melody and
were simple yet effective, or they were highly complex. The music
in cyclical form developed from the ``Four Tunes" of the Yi ethnic
group. The multi-part folk songs of the Hani group has its own
musical system which has aroused the attention of music experts
throughout the world. Over 200 different musical instruments now
exist including wood and skin drums, the seven-note horizontal
bamboo flutes and folk dongxiaos (a vertical bamboo flute) as well
as more complex wind and stringed instruments. Some minority
people have their own folk bands and play complete sets of ancient
music.
Folk music in Yunnan falls into three main categories: song, dance
and instrumental music. Songs are the most common
form of music in Yunnan,and are closely related to folk
literature. They include ancient songs of Creation, sacrifice and
festivals. There are songs of hunting, fishing, pastoral songs,
farming, logging, husking rice and embroidering. There are love
songs, from the ancient" Bashi "love song to the happy and sad
songs performed during the marriage ceremony, which tell us about
the history of traditional marriage customs. Many minority people
sing songs when handing down traditional knowledge and morals; and
even in lawsuits, they sing songs to defend the person on trial
and pass sentence. In Yunnan, all ethnic groups can
dance. The forms of dances vary from group to group. Some dances
are accompanied by singing, such as the Tibetans' "Guozhuang"
dance, and the Naxi group's "Erere". Some are accompanied by wind
instruments, such as the Lusheng dance ( Lusheng, a reed-pipe wind
instrument) of the Yi, Miao and Lahu ethnic groups; some by
stringed instruments; some by drums, such as the big drum dance of
the Jinuo group; the wooden drum dance of the Wa tribe; the bronze
drum dance of the Yi and Zhuang ethnic groups and the Xiangjiao
drum dance( a drum on a pedestal, shaped like an elephant's leg)
of the Dai and Bulang minority people. The Hani group' s "Bengbacha's"
dance is accompanied by songs and bamboo tubes (a kind of
percussion instrument).
Traditional musical instruments include wind, stringed and
percussion instruments, of which wind instruments are the most
popular. They include the bawu, the hulus (calabash instrument),
the xiaomendi (a small muffled flute) and the tuliang. The most
widely played percussion instruments include the xiangjiao drum
and mangluo (a folk gong). The most typical music
includes the Yi group's " Guoshan Tune " ( climbing over the
mountain) played with the xiaomendi (small muffled flute), the
instrumental trio "Qian'e" of the Lisus, the instrumental quartet"
Zhengxuan "of the Yis in
Shiping County played on the flute, the dianhu (a two-stringed
instrument), sanxian and sixian ( three and four stringed
instruments ), the instrumental ensemble of the Hani minority
played with the bawu, caogan, flute, muye, sanxian, sixian and
erhu (a two-stringed instrument) and the ancient music "Baisha
Xiyue" from Lijiang. Dancing to the sound of music
until sunset when their feet become covered with dust", this local
idiom vividly describes the minority people in Yunnan who love
singing and dancing. Among the minority dances, more
than a hundred are very well - known. Each minority has its own
distinguishing dances. For each of the minorities, the dances vary
according to the different branches and regions. For example, the
Yi's
dances are divided into the Tiaoyue, Dage, bronze drum, Yanhe,
Luozuo, flower drum and Sixian dances. Most dances are used at
special festivals. There are sacrificial dances, such as the
fierce ox dance of the Dulong ethnic group, the Tibetans '
sorcerer's dance where the dancers wear masks, and the Dongba
dance of the Naxi ethnic group. There are dances representing
activities such as the Bulang group' s spinning and weaving dance,
the ploughing dance of the Nu ethnic group. There are dances for
special ceremonies and rites, for example the palm fan dance at
funerals and the "Longpo dance" ( old dragon lady dance )of the
Hani and Yi ethnic groups. There are festive dances such as the"
Dengluoguo" of the Achang ethnic group, and the big drum dance of
the Jinuo ethnic group and dances for making friends and for fun
such as the Tibetans' Xuanzi dance, and the Pumi's Datiao dance.
The ethnic minorities dance to various musical sounds.
They dance to the sound of drums. These dances include the big
drum dance of the Wa ethnic group, the bronze drum dance of the Yi
and Zhuang ethnic groups, the Xiangjiao drum dance of the Dai, the
Hani's big drum dance, the Tibetan's Shougu (small drum similar to
the tambourine ) dance, the octagonal drum dance of the Bai,
flower drum and flat drum dances of the Yi, the Lahu's bamboo drum
dance,the fish drum dance of the Zhuang, and the tinkling drum
dance of the Naxi. Dances to songs.People dance
while singing their own traditional songs. Such dances have spread
far and wide,such as the Dage dance of the Yi and Bai ethnic
groups, Datiao dance of the Lisu group, "Alili"and"Erere"of the
Naxi, "Caitang'' of the Miao, and "Guozhuang'' of the Muosuo
people. Dances accompanied by stringed instruments.
Popular dances include the Tiaoxian,Tiaoyue and Dasanxian dances
of the Yi ethnic group, Xianzi dance of the Tibetans, the Pipa
dance of the Nu and the Yuezuo and the palm fan dances of the Hani.
Lantern dances are performed with bamboo lanterns mounted on
bamboo poles. They include the dragon lantern dance and elephant
lantern dance of the Achang ethnic group, the fire horse dance of
the Dai, Caima (horse step) dance of the Bai and flower-boat and
lantern dances of the Han nationality. Other dances
make use of bells, bamboo hats, bowls, fans and masks and some are
accompanied by rhythmic clapping or imitate animals, farming,
legends and even everyday life. Local operas in
Yunnan are represented by Dian opera and the festive lantern
opera. Dian opera originated during the Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911)and included the three tunes of sixian, huqin and
xiangyan and other tunes from Shaanxi, Anhui, Chu, and Kunqu
opera, and combined local language, music and folk customs.
The Festive lantern opera combines opera, folk songs and dances.
Its tunes have often been taken from the songs handed down from
the Ming and Qing dynasties, together with Yunnan folk songs,
dulcimer melodies and religious music. It also features separate
acts, fan dances, handkerchief waving, and rattle stick dancing.
Yunnan's ethnic folk operas include Bai, Zhuang, Dai, Yi, Miao,
Hani, Wa, Jingpo, Nuo, and Guansuo opera.
Nuo opera originated from the ancient custom of driving away evil
spirits and pestilence,and later developed into a spontaneous
performance. It features masks,costumes and impromptu
performances, and always includes a god driving away pestilence.
Guansuo opera is a variety of Nuo opera. The actors, who represent
warriors during the Three Kingdoms Period (221 -263 ), wear masks
and costumes, and hold weapons in their hands. It is accompanied
by percussion instruments and the actors perform simple chanting
as they drive away evil spirits and pestilences from door to door
throughout the villages. Bai opera, originally
called the "Chuichui Melody", dates back over 200 years. It has
over 300 different traditional acts and more than 30 tunes.
Zhuang opera developed from the folk songs, dances and variety
shows of the Zhuang ethnic group. The opera, originally created in
the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), has over 340 acts but only four
tunes. Dai opera is a combination of the folk songs
and dances, literature and art of the Dai ethnic group. The opera
has over a hundred plays. The traditional ones are based on opera
songs. Yi opera was only recently developed during
the 1950s, and is based on Yi folk songs and dances. The plays are
based on folk legends and practical life. Its melodies combine
folk songs, chants, dances and instrumental music.
The folk arts in Yunnan, like all the minority nationalities here,
have a long history, and have developed alongside the local
minorities. Some have local origins, some have been brought here
from other places. No one can count how many there are.
To protect and highlight this precious cultural heritage, the
local authorities have organized large-scale collection work for
folk literature, music and folk dances, and research into folk
architecture, costumes and adornments, folk opera and art. This
will help to preserve the treasures for future generations. When
you enter the Yunnan Museum and Kunming Museum, you will be able
to see the complete picture of the Yunnan folk arts and culture,
and will have the chance to appreciate the treasures and wonders
of these natural "mountain museums".
In 1995, the Yunnan Nationality Museum was set up beside the
beautiful Dianchi Lake as a showcase for the cultural history of
the ethnic groups in Yunnan, with some 10,000 pieces of relics
(material objects) collected and over 2000 pieces displayed so
far. We hope that one day, the treasures and wonders
buried deep in the natural "mountain museums'' will be shared with
peoples from all over the world. |