Guniangzhui
01 · Historical Records
Kyz Kuu (Girl Chasing) took shape long ago; records of it already appear in 15th-century texts. It is mainly distributed in Qinghe County of the Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and in the Kazakh-inhabited cities, counties, and townships nearby.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Kyz Kuu is a beloved traditional equestrian pastime of the Kazakh people, held at festivals, wedding ceremonies, and aken aytis gatherings. Shaped by nomadic life and grassland culture, the Kazakh people have developed strong physiques and superb horsemanship from childhood. Equestrian sport is not only the most important part of Kazakh recreational life but also a collective art form with a broad popular base. When Kyz Kuu is held, young men and women are paired in alternating order and divided into two teams. On the way from the crowd to the starting point, the young women and men taking part in Kyz Kuu talk and joke with one another. After reaching the designated starting point, the young man must immediately turn his horse around and ride back, while the young woman chases hard behind him. If the young woman fails to catch up, the young man's side wins. If the young woman and young man got along particularly well on the way out — feeling like old friends at first meeting and drawn to each other — then on the chase back, once the young woman catches up, she does not whip him; instead, she circles her whip lightly over his head or flicks his hat off. It is a special way for young Kazakh men and women to take part together and express their affection, a collective traditional cultural activity of the Kazakh people with wide influence among the public, and it plays an important role in enriching the cultural life of the masses and promoting ethnic unity, social harmony, and progress.
The talk there and the chase back
The two-part structure: a leisurely ride out in pairs followed by a hard chase back, the outcome tied to how the conversation went.
The whip and the gentle tap
The signal of mutual liking: instead of the whip, a light circling tap over the young man's head or the flicking off of his hat.
Aqin contests and festive occasions
The game is staged at festivals, weddings and aqin song contests, inseparable from grassland gatherings.
Qinghe county and horseback upbringing
Raised in pastoral life, Kazakh herders acquire superb riding from childhood, making mounted games both entertainment and communal art.
Three generations of transmission
Transmitted chiefly through the community, the practice currently has three recognised generations behind it.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Kyz Kuu is mainly distributed in Qinghe County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and in the Kazakh-inhabited cities, counties, and townships nearby; the Qinghe County Cultural Center is the designated protection unit. The practice took shape long ago, and records of it already appear in 15th-century texts. When Kyz Kuu is held, young men and women are paired in alternating order and divided into two teams, talking and joking with one another on the way from the crowd to the starting point. After reaching the designated starting point, the young man must immediately turn his horse around and ride back, while the young woman chases hard behind him; if she fails to catch up, the young man's side is deemed the winner. If the two got along particularly well on the way out and felt an immediate affinity, then once the young woman catches up she does not use her whip; instead, she circles it lightly over the young man's head or flicks his hat off. This chase on horseback has thus become a special way for young Kazakh men and women to express their affection.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Kyz Kuu is a traditional sport beloved of the Kazakh people, transmitted mainly through collective transmission. The currently recognized lineage of transmission comprises three generations. Kyz Kuu has a long history, having taken shape alongside the nomadic life of the Kazakh people; it preserves the simple, primitive imprint of the activity and has distinct regional characteristics. It is of important value for research into the production, daily life, and cultural customs of the Kazakh people and of China's early nomadic peoples generally.
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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