China Popular Itineraries |
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Third Sister Liu | Third Sister Liu
Beautiful and clever Third Sister Liu, the legendary Maiden of Song, is charged with false crimes and thrown into the river. Fortunately, she is rescued by an old fisherman who takes her into his family. Third Sister Liu and some young women tear down the sign put up by tyrant landlord Mu Huai-ren forbidding people to pick tea in the mountains. In a battle of wits by songs, Third Sister Liu sends Mu and his flunkeys scurrying. The irate landlord kidnaps Thirs Sister Liu and tries to intimidate her but fails. Ah Niu, son of the old fisherman, rescues her. Landlord Mu and his flunkeys pursue them. The villagers hide Third Sister Liu and Ah Niu and make fools of Mu and his men. Beginning life in a new place, Third Sister Liu and Ah Niu continue to inspire the people to fight feudal forces with their songs.
Yaos' Long Drum Dance
Long drum is also called yellow soil drum. Long drum dance is Yaos' traditional dance. A long drum is made of rouge wood, nearly one meter long, two ends thick and the middle part thin. The drum side is carved with flowers, birds, dragon and phoenix. Some drums have brass bell, linked to its sides and middle part. At dance, the drum bangs and bells ring. The sound makes up a chord. There are two persons dance.
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Drum Dance | Four persons dance and collective dance. Dancers tie their legs with bands and wear Chinese style jackets and trousers with a drum hung over the shoulders, two hands beating. They dance now fast, now gently and gracefully to the beat of the drum, which is dazzling and exciting. Long drum dance has a long history. Fan chengda of the song Dynasty said in the essay The Annals of Gui Hai Yu Heng: "Drum is the musical instrument for Yaos, which has a shape of a waist drum, but two times longer than it. The upper part is longer and the lower is bigger. Two ends of the drum are covered with skins for beating. "It is said that Pan Hu Yaos' ancestor, was knocked over by a fierce antelope and fell dead to a precipice. His younger generation used the skin from the antelope to make a drum, showing their hatred to the antelope and memorizing their ancestor. Sometimes, Yaos sing a song of King Pan and dance to the rhythm of a long drum.
An important aspect of Dong community life
Songs and dances are important aspects of Dong community life. Adults teach traditional songs to children, and young men sing them. Many popular legends and poems, covering a wide spectrum of themes, have been handed down by the Dongs from generation to generation. Their lyrics tend to be very enthusiastic, while narrative poems are subtle and indirect, allusive and profound.
Music and dance of Miaos
The Miao have a highly diversified culture developed from a common root. They are fond of singing and dancing, and have a highly-developed folk literature. Their songs, which do not rhyme and vary greatly in length from a few lines to more than 15,000, are easy to understand and are very popular among the Miaos.
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Music and dance of Miaos |
Miao Nationality is famous of her songs and dance. Her folk songs keep many kinds and melodies, such as modesty and sobriety Ancient Song, heroic and jazzy Flying Song, sentimental Love Song and so on. These songs are very pleasant, affecting and very deep in content. The most festival is Chanhuashan in 5th day of 5th month in lunar calendar, when girls and boys sing love song in antiphonal style to select sweetheart. The Miao's dances include the lusheng dance, drum dance and bench dance. Lushen is the favorite musical instrument of Miao people.
The lusheng is their favorite musical instrument. In addition, flutes, copper drum, mouth organs, the xiao (a vertical bamboo flute) and the suona horn are also very popular. Popular dances include the lusheng dance, drum dance and bench dance. |
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