In the area where the Dai people live, the elephant-foot drum is the most popular and unique kind of mass men's dance among the Dai dances. Whenever there is a slack in farming, festivals or drum competitions, young men with elephant-foot drums on their backs will rush from each village. Come, jump up and cheer on the strong, thick, flexible elephant feet...
In winter, I walked into the place where elephant-foot drums were made in Linxiang District, and there were still several logs and unfinished drums stacked in the courtyard... The artist's salary for making elephant-foot drums in Qinghua Village, Linxiang District, said, " We have been making elephant foot drums for over 500 years."
It is understood that in 2011, the Dai elephant-foot drum in Linxiang District was announced as a national intangible cultural heritage expansion project.

Handmade elephant foot drum with traditional craftsmanship

"In addition to the water-splashing festival, the closing door festival (Qian lantern festival), the opening festival, the stand-up pole festival and other folk activities must be used by the Dai people, the Chinese Spring Festival and other major festivals are indispensable for the elephant foot drum performance." Feng Chuanshi introduced that living in Almost all the people in the Dai ethnic villages in Linxiang District dance the graceful elephant-foot drum.
According to reports, the Dai people regard elephants and peacocks as symbols of auspiciousness, and the elephant foot drum is shaped like an elephant's feet, so it is deeply loved by the Dai people.
It is understood that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the state's efforts to protect and support the culture of ethnic minorities have been increasing. As an important part of the Dai culture in Linxiang District, the elephant-foot drum has also developed well. With the recovery and development of various festival activities of the Dai people, the demand for foot drums is increasing.
"In the process of repairing the elephant-foot drum, we carefully explored and studied the production process of the elephant-foot drum, and produced the elephant-foot drum in Linxiang District. The elephant-foot drum is hand-made in Linxiang District, and the production of the elephant-foot drum is well preserved. traditional crafts." Feng Chuanshi introduced to the reporter while chiseling logs. Among the many Dai folk dances, the elephant foot drum can be said to be the most representative of the Dai people.

It takes several months to go through nine processes

"To make traditional elephant-foot drums, tools such as saws, hammers, axes, knives, shovels, chisels, cones, etc. are needed." Feng Chuanshi said, "The traditional elephant-foot drums are made of a whole piece of wood, and the materials are selected in Every year in the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the Buddhist management team in the village and Anzhang hold a meeting to study, and the production artist proposes the choice of tree species. Ton tree, willow, cloud locust, thorn tree, Panzhihua tree, etc. can be used to make elephant foot drums. After the wood is dried in the shade, An Zhang, the Buddhist management team, determines the start time, and a respected old man in the village presides over the sacrificial ceremony. After the ceremony is completed, the artists can cut the material.
According to reports, the hand-made craftsmanship of the Dai elephant-foot drum in Linxiang District has continued the ancient manufacturing skills of the Dai people. "It takes about 3 to 4 months for an elephant's foot drum from tree selection to production." Feng Chuanshi said.
It is understood that the hand-making skills of Dai elephant-foot drums in Linxiang District contain rich cultural, scientific, social and economic values.
"After the elephant-foot drum is completed, a completion ceremony will be held to thank the heaven and the earth for giving the village elephant-foot drum, and pray to the Buddha to protect people in good weather and the safety of people and animals." Feng Chuanshi said, "To make an elephant-foot drum, at least one needs to be done. About half a month."
According to reports, after the production of the drum body, flowers, elephants, red deer, butterflies, dragons, phoenixes, bats and other patterns will be carved and painted on the outside of the drum body. After some careful polishing, the elephant drum is painted with red, yellow, green, black, white and other colors, and finally a varnish is applied.
Feng Chuanshi said, "The drum will also be tied with flower ribbons and colored balls to hang on the drummer's left shoulder. Finally, a few peacock feathers will be inserted on the elephant foot drum for decorative purposes. In order to increase the amplitude of the drum tail swing when dancing and enhance the viewing experience."
Feng Chuanshi picked up the elephant-foot drum improvised, and danced an elephant-foot drum... The drum sound was crisp and pleasant, and the dance posture was vigorous and flexible. "Like a foot drum, the drum is slung across the right shoulder in front of the chest, and the dance moves while beating the drum. The dance moves are mostly leg kicks and turns, accompanied by cymbals, cymbals and gongs, which can be group dances or solo dances." He said. Said while jumping.

Find ways to inherit and develop the elephant foot drum

"Most of the artists who make elephant-foot drums in Qinghua Village, Linxiang District are elderly, and making elephant-foot drums is a time-consuming and labor-intensive job. Most young people are reluctant to learn. In addition, the resources of ancient trees are decreasing year by year. The cost of making the traditional elephant-foot drum is on the verge of being lost," said Li Hongbing, director of the Mangpan Sub-district Office in Linxiang District.
According to reports, up to now, there are only about 20 folk artists who are good at and commercially producing elephant-foot drums in Linxiang District, among which representative figures include Feng Chuanshi from Qinghua Village of Manpan Sub-district Office and Ye Chuan from Mengzhun Village. Text et al.
In view of this, in the next step, Linxiang District will coordinate the resources and strengths of all parties, and strive to make elephant foot drums one of the important school-based teaching materials for primary and secondary schools in Linxiang District's Dai population. In addition, efforts will be made to build a platform for learning and communication of elephant-foot drums to promote the promotion of elephant-foot drums in Linxiang District and external publicity and promotion. It will combine tradition and creativity to promote the diversified development of elephant-foot drum cultural products and combine it with tourism development. With the help of the e-commerce platform, high-density publicity and promotion of hand-made elephant-foot drum products in Linxiang District will make hand-made elephant-foot drums known and loved by more people, making the handicraft on the verge of disappearance a new way for local people to get rid of poverty and become rich way.