Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu
01 · Historical Records
The origins of the Kuok meshrep are directly linked to the "Tengri" worship of the ancestors of the Uyghur people in Hami; words connected with the worship of "Tengri" already appeared in Turkic-Uyghur inscriptions of the 8th century CE.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The word "meshrep" comes from Arabic and means "gathering". Meshrep centers on dance and entertainment; the participants amuse themselves, and the gatherings draw large numbers of people. Meshrep can be divided by form of performance into song-and-dance meshrep, game meshrep, and song-speech meshrep (shuochang); by content it can be divided into parlor meshrep, welcome meshrep, and harvest meshrep. Every part of Xinjiang has its own meshrep; the forms are broadly similar, but each is known by a name such as "Dolan", "Kuok", or "Tahe", and each has its own distinct features. The folk meshrep of Hami belongs to the "Kuok meshrep" type. "Kuok" usually carries two meanings: one is "blue sky, the vault of heaven", and the other is "green seedlings". "Meshrep" comes from Arabic and means "gathering"; combined, "Kuok meshrep" refers to a special form of folk entertainment and an ancient folk-cultural activity of the Uyghur people of Hami. Kuok meshrep generally begins in early winter, when the first auspicious snow falls after the autumn harvest, and ends with the arrival of the Noruz festival in the following spring (it is held between January and March 21). It is a special way for farmers to pass the winter in peace and to celebrate the new year, embodying both their joy at the harvest and their fine hope for a better crop in the coming year. Kuok meshrep is held indoors; other meshrep have no venue requirement. Kuok meshrep directly reflects the ancient Uyghur inhabitants' knowledge of and belief in oasis farming culture, and displays the Uyghur nation's plain view of nature and its strong humanistic spirit. One conspicuous difference sets the Kuok meshrep of Hami apart from other meshrep: it is always held inside the house. The courtyards and rooms of oasis dwellings are limited in size; a table full of people, a plate of tobacco, and a rawap (a Uyghur plucked lute) are enough to sustain a session. With little room to move about indoors, the dance steps and formations are all scaled down, and the rhythm slows with them. The word "meshrep" comes from Arabic and means "gathering"; in itself it makes no demand for stage or costume, but to hold a real one the yigitbexi (the chief organizer), the mirawaz (the comic lead), the musicians, the dancers, and the clowns must all be assembled — only when the full company is gathered does the atmosphere come alive.
Two senses of kuoke
The word kuoke means both blue sky and green shoots; joined with the gathering term it names a local style of festive company.
From early snow to Noruz
Beginning with the first snows after harvest and running until Noruz, the season spans the idle months between two years' work.
A gathering held indoors
Unlike open-ground gatherings elsewhere, the Hami form is held indoors, which shapes its steps and formations.
A trace of sky worship
Its roots reach back to sky worship among the ancestors of Hami Uighurs, with related phrases already in an eighth-century Turkic inscription.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Kuok meshrep of Hami has a long history and a great variety of types; with its rich local character it stands alone among the meshrep of the Xinjiang Uyghur people.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Weiwuerdaolangmaixirefu · Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu · Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu · Xinjiang Weiwuerzumaixirefu.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Meshrep is a special form of folk entertainment of the Xinjiang Uyghur people, and also an ancient folk-cultural activity; it has a long history and has been transmitted without interruption.
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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