Shui Drum Dance
01 · Historical Records
De'ang creation mythology treats the water drum as a re-enactment of the "echo of antiquity" and venerates it for that reason. The water drum dance was first used in sacrificial activities such as the worship of heaven, the worship of earth and the worship of the soul of the grain, and the sound of the drum was regarded as a language for communicating with the spirits. The De'ang were formerly called the Benglong; after they were renamed the De'ang in 1985 the related festival customs were restored, and the water drum dance gradually developed into a dance of self-amusement and celebration at festivals such as the "Water Splashing for Flowers Festival", the "Water-Splashing Festival" and the "Longyang Festival".
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The water drum dance is one of the representative dances of the De'ang people. It is circulated in De'ang villages in Mangshi City, Ruili City, Yingjiang County, Longchuan County, Lianghe County and other counties and cities of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, as well as in Baoshan City, Pu'er City and Lincang City. In De'ang creation myth and legend, the water drum is regarded as a re-enactment of the "echo of antiquity" and is venerated for that reason. The water drum dance was first used in sacrificial activities such as worshipping heaven, worshipping earth and worshipping the soul of the grain; it later developed into a dance of self-amusement and celebration at De'ang festival events such as the "Water Splashing for Flowers Festival", the "Water-Splashing Festival" and the "Longyang Festival". The water drum is also called "gabendang" and is the principal percussion instrument of the De'ang people. The body of the drum is generally 1.5 to 2 metres long and is barrel-shaped, with a large head and a small tail. To make the drum body, the comparatively soft wood "haimagan" is used to hollow out the heart of a tree, and various patterns or the totemic emblems of the De'ang are painted on its surface. Both ends of the drum are covered with cowhide or python skin, and the two pieces are crossed head to tail and tied tight with sinew. When the drum body has been made, a small round hole is cut in its middle; before it is beaten, water is poured in and yellow clay is smeared on the skin of the drumhead, and once the head and the centre of the drum are wet, the remaining water is poured out. Once wetted, the drum has a soft timbre that is pure and mellow. Water drums are divided by volume into a large kind and a small kind, and the large and small water drum dances have different ways of being danced. The "large water drum dance" is a collective dance of men and women. The drum body is supported on a drum rack, and one man beats the drumhead with a beater; his movements are strong and forceful, determined by the drummer's improvisation, and may be struck from the front, from the side, with a turn of the body or with the back to the drum. Around the water drum, chang, cymbals and a small elephant-foot drum provide accompaniment. The remaining dancers go clockwise in a circle, singing water drum tunes and dancing the "footstep dance", the "flower-gathering dance", the "sowing dance", the "harvest dance" and the like. The "small water drum dance" belongs to the men. One man carries the drum slung in front of his abdomen, striking the drumhead with a beater in his right hand and patting the drum tail with his left; two other men each play a chang and cymbals, producing rhythms that interlock and overlap. The dancers beat as they dance and change places as they go. The basic steps include rubbing jumps, squat jumps, mutual pushing, twisting the drum, striding turns, cock-fighting and the like, and the drumstick, the chang beater and the cymbal plates in their hands trace out different flourishes as they circle with the steps. At the same time, the people form a circle and, keeping time with the drum, sing and dance as they go. The steps centre mainly on the "single-foot raised circling step", and the movements include single and double rubbing steps, kicking the foot in a turn, circling the drum tail, twisting the drum, cock-fighting, each showing his own prowess, squat jumps, mutual pushing and the like, interspersed with some movements facing one another and spinning on the spot, in a fervid atmosphere.
Gabendang, the barrel-shaped water drum
The drum is the De'ang people's principal percussion instrument, a barrel of one and a half to two metres with painted patterns or clan emblems.
Soft wood, sinew and hide
The shell is hollowed from the soft wood called haimagang and faced with ox or python skin laced tight with sinew.
Wetting the drum before playing
Water is poured through a hole in the side and yellow clay smeared on the head; once soaked, the water is drained and the tone turns soft and pure.
The great water-drum dance
A mixed circle dance in which one man strikes the mounted drum in many ways while others dance the step, flower-picking, sowing and harvest dances.
The small water-drum dance
A men's dance with the drum slung at the belly, one hand striking the head and the other the tail, against intersecting cymbal rhythms.
Water-splashing and dragon festivals
Performed at the De'ang flower-watering, water-splashing and dragon festivals, led by the single-foot circling step amid jumping and turning figures.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The water drum dance is highly artistic and appealing to watch. It is the crystallisation of the wisdom and creativity of the local De'ang people and a cultural vehicle for their ideals and outlooks, and it plays an indispensable part in promoting harmony in local society.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
It is transmitted mainly by family inheritance, by apprenticeship to a master, and by self-training after watching others.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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