Larenbuyujimensuo
01 · Historical Records
Larenbu and Jimensuo is sung entirely in the Tu language; it originated in the Tu area, grew and developed there and is rooted in Tu traditional culture, and is loved by both the local Tu and Han peoples.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Larenbu and Jimensuo is a long folk poem of the Tu people, created and sung in the spoken Tu language and handed down by word of mouth among the people, still a living oral literary form today. With vivid images, deep and tragic language and a form of narration and song, this folk literary work recounts the love tragedy of the poor man Larenbu and Jimensuo, the sister of the herdsman's master, who moved from an employer relation to a passionate love. Because of the obstruction of Jimensuo's brother and sister-in-law this love ended in failure. The whole poem is chiefly narrated and sung and divides into eight chapters; it is the crystallisation of the collective wisdom of the Tu working people, with a broad popular character, and is the narrative love song most loved by the Tu people, having different styles in different areas of circulation. Its singing tune is distinctive and its structure clear and well-ordered. The whole poem has deep and tragic language and vivid images with a clear structure, and is a representative work of Tu folk literature combining narrative and lyric.
Antiphonal Singing Between Man and Woman
The mode of performance of Larenbu and Jimensuo, chiefly antiphonal singing between man and woman.
The Eight Chapters
The whole poem is chiefly narrated and sung and divides into eight chapters.
The Tu Narrative Love Song
The narrative love song most loved by the Tu people.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
In performance Larenbu and Jimensuo is chiefly antiphonal singing between man and woman, but unlike the ordinary question-and-answer antiphon.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
In the story the main characters Larenbu, Jimensuo, the brother and the sister-in-law have vivid traits and distinct national features, providing lively material for ethnology, linguistics and the study of Tu society. Besides this, the story described in Larenbu and Jimensuo reflects one aspect of the Tu people's gradual shift from a nomadic to an agricultural mode of production and has important historical research value. As time passes most of the transmitters of this long folk poem have died one after another and the young and middle-aged under fifty basically can no longer sing it, so that successors are lacking and it has reached a state urgently needing salvage and protection.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- He Quanmei 01-0032
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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