Bashanbeierge
01 · Historical Records
Because of the intensification of the modernization process the carrying trade has changed from long-distance to short-distance carrying and the number of people engaged in it grows smaller and smaller, so that the “Bashan bei'er song” is gradually losing the space in which to survive and develop; it faces a crisis and urgently needs protection.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Bashan bei'er song refers to a mountain song produced in and current in the Bazhong city area at the southern foot of the Micang mountains in north-eastern Sichuan. People call those who engage in long-distance carrying “bei lao er” or “bei er ge”, so the mountain song sung leaning on the carrying pole to rest one's breath on the way came to be called the “Bashan bei'er song”; its form of expression is mostly one person leading and the many responding, or the many singing in unison. The words of the bei'er song are mostly in the seven-character regulated form and make much use of the means of exposition, comparison and evocation; the padding words are usually full words, the mode is the zhi mode, the musical form is a single period of two phrases, upper and lower, the vocal style is high and drawn out, the manner bold and unrestrained, and it ends on a long sighing throw of the voice, with a striking local character. Representative pieces include It Is Hard to Climb the Slope with the Pack on One's Back.
It Is Hard to Climb the Slope with the Pack on One's Back
A representative piece of the Bashan bei'er song.
One Leading and the Many Responding (or the Many Singing in Unison)
The main form of performance of the Bashan bei'er song.
The Seven-Character Regulated Form and the Zhi-Mode Single Period
The musical features of seven-character lines, a single period of two phrases upper and lower, and a long sighing throw of the voice at the end.
Singing While Resting One's Breath on the Carrying Pole
The occasion of singing while resting one's breath by propping the carrying pole on the way of long-distance carrying.
Carrying on the Ancient Micang Road
The scene of productive labour of the great carrying companies on the ancient Micang road leading up to Chang'an and down to Chengdu.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Bashan bei'er song circulates mainly in Tongjiang, Nanjiang, Bazhou and Pingchang under the jurisdiction of Bazhong city in Sichuan and the area at the southern foot of the Micang mountains, with the line of the ancient Micang road as its core area; it also circulates in the adjoining Dazhou and Guangyuan of north-eastern Sichuan.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The Bashan bei'er song arose along with the Ba people's mode of productive labour in long-distance carrying. In the Qin and Han the ancient Micang road ran through the whole of the Bazhong area, leading up to Chang'an and down to Chengdu, and in former times people formed great companies on this road to carry goods, created the “Bashan bei'er song” in their labour, and transmitted it down to the present. The “Bashan bei'er song” is an embodiment of the spiritual culture of the Ba mountain people, a living record of social development and a true basis for studying the history of the Ba mountain people; it carries the local customs and habits of life of the Ba mountains. (Associated bearer recorded in the official archive:) Chen Zhihua, male, Han, born 1945, a native of Bazhou, Sichuan. He learned mountain songs from childhood and in long years of long-distance carrying labour accumulated a great many Bashan bei'er song pieces and rich singing technique, and has long been engaged in teaching singing. His vocal style is high and bright and his throw of the voice most penetrating; his representative works include I Am a Ba Mountain Pack Bearer and The Two Rivers of Tong and Nan Have Fine Small Feet. He is a representative bearer of the second batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage items, the Bashan bei'er song.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Chen Zhihua 02-0239
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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