China News Service, Diqing, October 19th, title: At the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, the old Tibetan wandering art strings play a happy new life

  Reporter Miao Chao

  Xianzi is a traditional Tibetan musical instrument.

In the past, it was a unique skill of wanderers in the Yunnan-Sichuan-Tibet Plateau, and few people could play it.

Today, cheerful strings are popular at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, representing freedom and beauty.

  Baima Zhashi, 41, is a staff member of the Forestry Station in Foshan Township, Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Practice new songs.

  Baima Zhashi lives in Jiangpo Village, Foshan Township, a quiet and peaceful Tibetan village at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain.

"Half of the men in Jiangpo Village can play chords, and almost all men, women and children can dance chords."

  It is essential for Tibetans in Jiangpo Village to celebrate with Xianzi music and Xianzi dance during festivals and weddings.

Baima Zhashi said, "Generally, someone like me who can pull the string takes the lead, hangs the string around the waist, and dances the opening dance while pulling it. Others sing and dance in a circle with the rhythm of the string."

  The strings are played, the songs are sung in harmony, the dance is light, and the enthusiasm is full of enthusiasm... In Jiangpo Village, such happy scenes are often all night long.

The picture shows Bai Ma Zashi pulling the strings and playing with other musicians.

Photo by Zhang Li

  Baima Zhashi has been learning Xianzi from his father since he was 12 years old. Now he is well-known locally and is known as the "Xianzi King" of Jiangpo Village.

In 2015, he released a music album titled "Meili Xianyin", which included 12 of his best Xianzi pieces.

  "My father learned Xianzi from my grandfather, but I don't know who he learned it from. But I heard from the old people that Xianzi used to be played only by people who were wandering around. They made a living by performing Xianzi." Baima Zashi told reporters, "In the old society , Xianzi was despised by chieftains and chieftains and was not allowed to play in formal occasions, believing that pulling Xianzi would make them poor."

  After the founding of the People's Republic of China, with the advancement of the democratic reform in Tibet, the serfs and slaves in the Tibetan people were freed, and the cheerful chords gradually became popular in Tibetan villages in Mangkang, Batang, Sichuan, Deqin, Yunnan and other places.

  Baima Zhashi believes that traditional Xianzi music is cheerful and lively, can improvise lyrics, mostly praise hometown, nature, love and other beautiful things, and sing people's voice of freedom and yearning for a better life, so they are loved by everyone.

  In order to promote the inheritance and development of Xianzi, before the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, Deqin County held the Xianzi Festival every year.

At the opening ceremony, thousands of people gathered at the welcome stage in front of Meili Snow Mountain. Several highly respected stringers played music, and everyone formed a circle of various sizes and danced happily.

  At the Xianzi Festival, "Xianzi Wang" Baima Zha Shichang served as a judge, scoring the comments of the younger generation of Xianzi players.

He is happy to see that Xianzi is loved and passed down by more people. For this reason, he goes to the primary and secondary schools in Deqin County every year to introduce the charm of Xianzi to students.

  In recent years, among his apprentices, not only Tibetans, but also Naxi and Lisu youths living in Deqin County.

"I hope that all ethnic groups can share the happiness brought by Xianzi."

  In the local area, there is a newly composed Xianzi song that is widely circulated. It is in the form of a question and answer. The main idea is: "...Dali Erhai Lake is formed by several rivers? How many ethnic groups is China composed of? My heart goes to Erhai Lake in Dali. I have never counted that Erhai Lake is formed by several rivers. As long as all ethnic groups are united, it does not need to consider how many ethnic groups China is composed of.” (End)