Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu
01 · Historical Records
Awati County lies on the northwestern edge of the Tarim Basin, in the lower reaches of the Yarkand River, where the Aksu River, the Yarkand River and the Hotan River converge; its residents are made up of fifteen ethnic groups, including Uyghurs, Han, Hui and Kazakhs, making it a typical area of concentrated ethnic minority settlement. The Dolan meshrep grew up in this environment of adjacent ethnic groups: the song-and-dance foundation of the native Western Regions culture and the influence of Islamic culture were layered together on the waterside oases, producing a style of gathering that is at once wild and courteous. The name "meshrep" comes from Arabic and originally means "gathering"; after it spread into the Tarim Basin, it was given local names such as Dolan, Kok and Tahe, becoming the self-run tradition of each oasis. This practice appeared early in Awati: the inheritor Eliyas Gayit was born into a meshrep family, watched adults sing and dance in the courtyard from childhood, was brought onto the dance floor as he grew older, and grew into one of the few local artists specializing in improvised dance.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The word "meshrep" comes from Arabic and means "gathering". Meshrep is centered on dance and recreational activities; participants amuse themselves, and the numbers taking part are large. Meshrep can be divided by performance form into song-and-dance meshrep, game meshrep and speech-and-song meshrep, and by performance content into parlor meshrep, welcome meshrep and harvest meshrep. Every part of Xinjiang has its own meshrep; the forms are broadly similar, and they are given names such as "Dolan", "Kok" and "Tahe", each with its own distinctive features. Awati County is located in the central-western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, on the northwestern edge of the Tarim Basin and in the lower reaches of the Yarkand River; it borders Aksu to the northeast and extends southward deep into the Taklamakan Desert. The Aksu River, the Yarkand River and the Hotan River converge here. The total population is about 219,600, comprising fifteen ethnic groups including Uyghurs, Han, Hui and Kazakhs; it is a typical area of concentrated ethnic minority settlement. Meshrep belongs to the category of song-and-dance art forms; it requires no special stage or costumes, but to hold one, the yigit bexi (host), the mirwaz (master of revels), the naghmi kexi (musicians), the dancers and the comic performers must all be assembled.
A name meaning gathering
The term comes from an Arabic word meaning gathering; on reaching the Tarim basin it split into local forms such as Dao Lang, Kuoke and Tahe.
Assembling the company for a performance
No stage or costume is needed, but the company must be complete: singers, players, instrumentalist, dancers and the clown.
Parlour, welcome and harvest gatherings
By content, they are held in the parlour, to welcome guests, or after the threshing, each with its own rules of hospitality.
Song-and-dance, games and narration
By form there are song-and-dance, game and narrated gatherings, usually taking turns within a single evening.
Ailiyasi Gayiti's improvised dancing
Ailiyasi Gayiti learned within a performing family, mastered the dance rules and is noted for improvising on sight while also organising shows.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Dolan meshrep is popular in the area of Awati County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Weiwuerdaolangmaixirefu · Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu · Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu · Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Meshrep is a distinctive form of folk entertainment of the Xinjiang Uyghurs, and also an ancient folk cultural activity with a long history and uninterrupted transmission. With social change, the masses' spontaneous Dolan meshrep singing activities have become fewer and fewer, the number of participants is constantly declining, and the scope of the activity is shrinking day by day. In this situation, the Xinjiang Uyghur Dolan meshrep faces the danger of dying out and urgently needs rescue and protection. Eliyas Gayit (from the official archive of the associated inheritor): Male, Uyghur ethnicity, born in March 1956, from Awati County, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. He was born into a Dolan meshrep family and, nurtured by the family, developed a deep love for the performing art of meshrep. He has a relatively complete grasp of the laws of Dolan meshrep dance and is especially skilled at improvised performance; he is one of the few dancers among existing Dolan meshrep artists. He has mastered the connotations and functions of this art and has strong organizational ability; he frequently stages performances at cultural centers, schools and among the people, with considerable influence. As a member of the Awati County Dolan Muqam Folk Art Troupe, he has toured at home and abroad with the troupe on many occasions. He has taught eleven apprentices. Representative inheritor of Xinjiang Uyghur Meshrep (Dolan Meshrep of the Xinjiang Uyghurs), a national-level intangible cultural heritage item of the fifth batch.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Aili Yibulayin 04-1966
- Talipu Kuwan 05-2989
- Ailiyasi Gayiti 05-2990
- Kazimuhadeer
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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