Sainaimu
01 · Historical Records
Qiemo Sainaim is transmitted in Qiongkule Township, Yengistagh Township, Bag Airik Township, Areli Township, Qiemo Town and other places of Qiemo County, in the basin of the Qarqan (Cherchen) River on the southeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert; it is the song and dance of the southern route of the ancient oasis Silk Road. Its music preserves two kinds of free-rhythm passages without metre, the muqaddam (free-rhythm prelude) and the selik quxur (the closing section), while all the remaining pieces accompany the dance throughout, moving in rhythm from slow to fast.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Qiemo Sainaim is transmitted mainly in Qiongkule Township, Yengistagh Township, Bag Airik Township, Areli Township, Qiemo Town and other places of Qiemo County, Xinjiang. The principal feature of Qiemo Sainaim is that it takes the form mainly of self-amusing dance. Apart from the two free-rhythm passages, the muqaddam (free-rhythm prelude) and the selik quxur (the closing section), all the other pieces accompany the dance throughout; the rhythm is steady, moving from slow to fast, and the melodies are beautiful. The accompanying instruments include the tanbuer, the dutar, the ajek, the dap (frame drum), the kuchuk, the sapar and so on. In dancing, the dap is used to control rhythm and tempo. The performance form of Qiemo Sainaim dance is comparatively free; it can be performed either indoors or outdoors. Before the performance begins, the audience sits in a circle and the musicians and singers gather in one place. When the music starts the dancers enter; they may dance solo, in pairs, or three to five people together. The content expresses the lofty sentiments of the Uyghur people of Qiemo through the ages: their longing for love, their love of life, their kindness and tolerance, and their commitment to casting out evil and praising good. The Meshreps of the Qiemo area are mostly held in courtyards and orchards; the singers sit together on one side, and the dancers enter to the beat of the dap, at first slowly and then quickly. The lyrics fall mainly into two categories, love and everyday life, expressing the lofty sentiments of the Uyghur people of Qiemo through the ages: their longing for love, their love of life, their kindness and tolerance, and their commitment to casting out evil and praising good.
The prelude and coda
Apart from two unmetred preludes and a coda, every melody of the Qiemo form accompanies the dance, steady at first and then quickening.
Tambur, dutar and sapayi
Its instruments are the tambur, dutar, ghijak, dap frame drum, kushuk and sapayi, the drum governing rhythm and speed.
Solo and paired dancing indoors and out
It may be danced indoors or out: the crowd sits round, band and singers gather, and once the music starts dancers enter alone, in pairs or three to five together.
Yasin Isa and his instruments
Born in Qiemo in 1954, Yasin Isa can play, sing, dance and notate, commands seven kinds of instrument and long led the form's training.
Songs of love and of life
Its texts fall into songs of love and songs of life, expressing the Qiemo people's longing, tolerance and hatred of evil.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The lyrics of Qiemo Sainaim fall mainly into two categories: themes of love and themes of everyday life.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Uyghur Sanam · Uyghur Sanam · Sainaimu · Sainaimu · Sainaimu · Sainaimu · Sainaimu.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The transmission of Qiemo Sainaim is currently in good condition. Yasin Aisa (associated inheritor, as recorded in the official file): Male, Uyghur ethnicity, born in June 1954, native of Qiemo County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He began to learn Qiemo Sainaim and other folk songs and dances at the age of fifteen, and possesses the comprehensive abilities of playing, singing, dancing and notation. While serving as deputy director of the Qiemo County Cultural Centre, he was for a long time in charge of training and guidance for the transmission activities of Qiemo Sainaim, and he took part in and guided the excavation and organization of Qiemo Sainaim. He has fully mastered all the songs of Qiemo Sainaim and can perform on many Uyghur folk instruments, including the dutar, the tanbur, the satar, the rawap, the dap (frame drum), the ajek and the sabai. His performing skills are excellent and he is deeply loved by the local farmers and herdsmen. Representative inheritor of Sainaim (Qiemo Sainaim), a national-level intangible cultural heritage project in the fifth national batch.
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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