Daur Wuqin Narrative Singing
01 · Historical Records
Wuqin began as narrative poetry composed in Manchu script by Daur literati during the Qing dynasty and recited in a chanting style; later folk performers sang and recited these works orally, so that Wuqin gradually developed into a quyi genre meaning "story chanting or story singing and recitation".
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Daur Wuqin, also written "Wuchun", is the Daur form of quyi storytelling. It formed and became popular in the Meilisi Daur District and Fularji District of Qiqihar City, Fuyu County and Longjiang County in Heilongjiang Province; in the Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Hulunbuir League and Xigaitu Banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; and in Daur settlements such as Tacheng Prefecture of Xinjiang. Early Wuqin performances were mostly unaccompanied chanting; later some performers appeared who played and sang to their own accompaniment on the huachangsi (a four-string fiddle). The tunes used also grew richer: besides the original chanting mode, narrative song modes and xiao-chang (small-tune) modes came to be used as well. Wuqin programmes have varied content: those narrating the deeds of the national hero morigen, those reflecting love and marriage life, those singing the landscapes and scenery of the homeland, and those telling myths, fairy tales and legends. Among these programmes, the ones most popular with Daur people are the stories recounting the historical achievements of the national hero morigen, the epic Shaolang and Daifu, and stories adapted from Han Chinese classical classics such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin. The length of the programmes varies: the longest can be sung and recited for several days and nights, while the shortest run from a few minutes to several hours. Traditional Wuqin performances were usually given during New Year and festival celebrations and on auspicious occasions, when large audiences gathered on the kang (heated brick bed platform) of a household, sitting cross-legged to listen to the performers. After the founding of the People's Republic of China a large number of works singing of new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin pieces written and performed by Sere, In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang, Motherland Mother and Ode to Beijing, and The Origin of an Iron Bucket and Since Meeting Chairman Mao, written and performed by the late noted Wuqin artist Heregitu.
In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang
After the founding of the People's Republic of China a large number of works singing of new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin pieces written and performed by Sere, In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang, Motherland Mother and Ode to Beijing, and The Origin of an Iron Bucket and Since Meeting Chairman Mao, written and performed by the late noted Wuqin artist Heregitu.
Motherland Mother
After the founding of the People's Republic of China a large number of works singing of new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin pieces written and performed by Sere, In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang, Motherland Mother and Ode to Beijing, and The Origin of an Iron Bucket and Since Meeting Chairman Mao, written and performed by the late noted Wuqin artist Heregitu.
Ode to Beijing
After the founding of the People's Republic of China a large number of works singing of new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin pieces written and performed by Sere, In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang, Motherland Mother and Ode to Beijing, and The Origin of an Iron Bucket and Since Meeting Chairman Mao, written and performed by the late noted Wuqin artist Heregitu.
The Origin of an Iron Bucket
After the founding of the People's Republic of China a large number of works singing of new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin pieces written and performed by Sere, In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang, Motherland Mother and Ode to Beijing, and The Origin of an Iron Bucket and Since Meeting Chairman Mao, written and performed by the late noted Wuqin artist Heregitu.
Since Meeting Chairman Mao
After the founding of the People's Republic of China a large number of works singing of new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin pieces written and performed by Sere, In Praise of the Hero Huang Jiguang, Motherland Mother and Ode to Beijing, and The Origin of an Iron Bucket and Since Meeting Chairman Mao, written and performed by the late noted Wuqin artist Heregitu.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Wuqin has a distinctive ethnic style and regional cultural character, and has always been deeply loved by the Daur people.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Daur Wuqin Narrative Singing.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
In the new historical period, however, its survival and development have met serious challenges and it is in an endangered state, so corresponding measures for support and protection are urgently needed. Sere (according to the official record of the associated inheritor): He learned the erhu and Wuqin performance from his parents as a child, and later actively collected, translated and collated traditional Daur folk songs. Male, of Daur ethnicity, born in 1931, died in 2010, native of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang. Representative inheritor of Daur Wuqin, a second-batch national-level intangible cultural heritage project. The narrative poem Shaolang and Daifu, which he translated and published, won the first prize at the inaugural Minority Literature Award in 2005; his works Motherland Ode and I Love My Hometown, created in 1986, were broadcast by China National Radio in 32 languages. Nayintai (according to the official record of the associated inheritor): Male, of Daur ethnicity, born in 1935, native of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang. Influenced by his home environment from childhood, he studied numbered musical notation with teacher Dexin and learned instrumental skill and singing from the famous local folk artist known as "Zhaendale". He is skilled at imitating characters in performance, has created a large number of works, and has translated ethnic songs and ethnic stories. Nayintai performing the Daur Wuqin Shaolang and Daifu (photograph by Taoguishui). A representative inheritor in the second national-level batch of intangible cultural heritage projects for Daur Wuqin. The Wuqin Shaolang and Daifu narrated by him won a national gold award and is cherished by local audiences.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Sere 02-0766
- Nayintai 02-0767
- Tumure 05-2499
- Taoguishui 05-2500
- Elingqiao
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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