Dabenqu
01 · Historical Records
It has a long history, originating in the bianwen narrative chanting of the Tang dynasty; by the Ming dynasty it had already matured, and after the founding of the People's Republic of China it received unprecedented development.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Daben qu is an ancient genre of quyi transmitted in the Bai areas around Erhai Lake in Yunnan; it is a form of quyi that developed on the basis of the Bai folk songs of the Dali area. It is now transmitted in Dali City, Eryuan County, Binchuan County, Jianchuan County, Heqing County and other places in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and is especially flourishing in Dali City. The traditional performance of Daben qu is carried out by two people: one wears a long gown and sings while holding a flowered fan or a handkerchief, and the other accompanies on the sanxian (a three-stringed lute). Ordinarily a single table and two stools make up the whole performance setting, while a more ceremonious singing requires a raised stage and the setting up of an incense table. As it has developed, a form performed by several people has appeared, and dance-like performance movements are often added to the singing. Its language is standard, insisting on “correct words and rounded tones”; it is generally based on the sung text with narration as an auxiliary. The sung text uses the Bai language and mostly follows the “three-seven-one-five” pattern of the Bai shanhua style, while the narration is mostly in Chinese. Through constant improvement, Daben qu has formed a vocal system of “three vocal styles, nine ban and eighteen diao”. Its accompanying music is plain and rich, the main accompanying instrument is the sanxian, and the xingmu (a small hardwood block struck to mark the beat), the folding fan and the handkerchief are the props commonly used in singing. The content of its sung narratives consists of long-form stories, drawing largely on traditional Han Chinese opera stories, Bai folk legends and the modern life of Bai society, and there is a large body of tunes extolling filial piety and ethical norms. In the singing, the vocal style above all embodies a character's personality and expresses feelings and thoughts, while at the same time narrating the course of events. It uses poetry to express the will and song to expound words, absorbing the rhythms and part of the textual content of Bai folk songs and xiaodiao; it has exerted far-reaching influence in the Bai areas. At the same time, its distinctive musical vocal styles, rhythmic and metrical patterns, intercalated words and accompaniment are of important value for the study of ethnic music, and it forms an indispensable chapter in the national history of the development of quyi. The singing of Daben qu is close to reality, reflects the life of the people, extols filial piety and ethical norms, and has an educating and unifying effect on the people; while strengthening ethnic cultural confidence, it is also conducive to the harmonious development between ethnic groups.
Three modes, nine metres, eighteen tunes
Its mature vocal system sets character and feeling in song while narrating events, the text in Bai and the asides mostly in Chinese.
The San Hua verse form
The verse pattern underlying most texts, which pair song with brief narration and stress clear words and rounded tone.
Raosanling and Benzhu festivals
It is sung at Bai festivals such as Raosanling and the Benzhu rite and at weddings, funerals and house-buildings.
Sanxian, fan and handkerchief
A long-gowned singer with fan or handkerchief performs opposite a sanxian player, at a table or, grandly, on a stage with incense.
Bai legend and Han drama plots
Its long narratives draw on Han drama plots, Bai legends and modern Bai life, with many texts promoting filial piety.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Daben qu is transmitted in the Bai areas around Erhai Lake in Yunnan, and is extant today in Dali City, Eryuan County, Binchuan County, Jianchuan County, Heqing County and other places in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, being most flourishing in Dali City. With regard to its distribution and vocal habits, the folk have a saying that there are three schools: the south school, the north school and the Haidong school. The south school is centred on the Dali and Xiaguan area and its vocal delivery is gentle and mellow; the north school is current along the line of Eryuan, Jianchuan and Heqing; the Haidong school is transmitted on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake. The singing tradition is carried out by two people, one in a long gown holding a flowered fan or handkerchief and singing, the other accompanying on the sanxian; a single table and two stools suffice to begin, while more ceremonious performances raise a stage and set up an incense table. Daben qu is sung in Bai folk activities such as Raosanling and the Benzhu Festival, and in customs such as weddings and funerals and house-building, and is handed down largely by master-disciple succession and by family transmission.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Daben qu is sung in the traditional Bai festival activities (such as Raosanling and the Benzhu Festival) and in folk activities such as weddings and funerals and house-building; a relatively complete system of transmission has formed among the folk, including master-disciple transmission, family transmission, on-site observation transmission and transmission through exchanges between performers. The content of Daben qu displays the development history of the Bai people as well as the exchange and integration between Bai and Han Chinese culture, and it is precious documentary and historical material for studying the development history of ethnic groups.
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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