Sainaimu
01 · Historical Records
Among them, the most representative Ruoqiang “Sainaim”, transmitted from ancient times to the present, is dearly loved by the local masses for its unrestrained, free and cheerful dancing and for its stirring, upward-lifting tunes. Since 1993 Ruoqiang County has held large-scale entertainment activities such as the “Ethnic Unity Bonfire Meshrep” and the “Garden-Party Meshrep” almost every year.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Ruoqiang County belongs to Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and lies on the southeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Because Ruoqiang County is far from the surrounding areas and relatively isolated, the county has become one of the regions where folk music and dance have been preserved in a relatively primitive and complete state. The people of Ruoqiang frequently hold varied “Meshrep” activities, and Ruoqiang Sainaim is the principal dance item in such an event. Almost all folk artists of Ruoqiang County have their own unique dance skills. At every kind of celebratory event held, the traditional dance Ruoqiang Sainaim is danced. Ruoqiang Sainaim has already become an indispensable part of the cultural and entertainment life of the Uyghur people of Ruoqiang.
The chief dance of the meshrep
The people of Ruoqiang hold frequent meshrep, and Ruoqiang sanam is the principal dance of these gatherings and of every celebration.
Campfire and garden meshrep
Since 1993 the county has held large campfire and garden meshrep almost every year, where the dance is performed again and again.
Free and uninhibited movement
It is loved for its free, joyful movement and stirring melodies, and almost every local artist has a manner of dancing of their own.
An oasis on the desert's edge
Its remoteness on the south-eastern rim of the Taklamakan has made the county one of the places where folk music and dance survived most intact.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Ruoqiang County belongs to Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang and lies on the southeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert; in the northeast of the county lie Lop Nur and the ruins of ancient Loulan. Because it is far from the surrounding areas and relatively isolated, the folk music and dance here have been preserved in a relatively primitive and complete state, and almost all folk artists within the county have their own unique dance skills. Ruoqiang Sainaim, with its unrestrained, free and cheerful dancing and its upward-lifting tunes, is favoured by the local masses. According to the County Annals of Ruoqiang and the project files, artists often take turns dancing at Meshreps, and the onlookers judge an artist's foundation by the length of the dance passage and the number of turns; when the dancing reaches its height the whole audience joins in the response, forming the entertainment atmosphere peculiar to oasis settlements.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Uyghur Sanam · Uyghur Sanam · Sainaimu · Sainaimu · Sainaimu · Sainaimu · Sainaimu.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Ruoqiang Sainaim is transmitted above all through the Meshrep; there is no distinction between audience and dancers, and anyone may enter the dance as soon as the music starts. Since 1993 Ruoqiang County has held large-scale entertainment activities such as the “Ethnic Unity Bonfire Meshrep” and the “Garden-Party Meshrep” almost every year, and Ruoqiang Sainaim is danced at every kind of celebration; it has become an indispensable part of the cultural and entertainment life of the local Uyghur people. Its sung texts draw mostly on folk songs and local legends, with themes praising the oasis, speaking of love and blessing guests; accompaniment relies chiefly on the dap (frame drum) and the dutar, but the recording of the complete suites and their transmission from master to apprentice remain unsystematic.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Aimaiti Simayi 03-0954
- Nasier Nusuer 04-1583
- Aimidouli Rehemisha 05-2283
- Yimin Yibila 05-2284
- Yasen Aisa 05-2285
- Abulimiti Xiahabi 05-2286
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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