The Folk Culture of Lusheng

83 views · Organized by Susan on 2022-02-21

In the villages inhabited by ethnic minorities in various parts of Guizhou, they are known as the "Hometown of Lusheng" and "Hometown of Songs and Dances". Lusheng is one of the musical instruments that ethnic minorities particularly love. , colorful reed party, blowing reeds and dancing to celebrate their own national festivals.

The Folk Culture of Lusheng

Since ancient times, reed playing has always been accompanied by dance, playing and dancing. However, according to the different customs in different regions, the performance of the reeds is also different. The "stepping on the reed" in the Miao area in the southeast of Guizhou has a grand scale and a tall reed. The reed played by the reed team has rich music, strong music, magnificent and moving. While the reed hands are blowing, they skillfully perform difficult movements such as handstands, rolls, hangings, backwards, pole climbing, and Arhat stacking. In some areas, reed solo and duet dance are common, with bright melody, free rhythm, skilled and fascinating. In some areas, the reeds are smaller, and the rhythm is smooth and soothing, which is intriguing. These reed techniques of different customs have converged into a bunch of artistic wonders with national characteristics, which have been passed down from generation to generation and will never decline.

In addition, the reed is not only a simple national musical instrument, but also an important "medium" for young Miao men and women to get married. Through it, the young people in the cardamom age can get to know each other, have love, and become husband and wife. Whenever the wind is clear and moonlit night, the affectionate young man holds his beloved reed and blows a melodious love song. When the girls hear the sound, they will understand it, and they will face each other with clear singing. Insiders, it's self-evident. Therefore, reeds are sacred and precious in the eyes of the Miao people, and their homes cannot be separated from them.

Lusheng is regarded as a close friend and a good companion by the Miao people. All Miao men can play, and all women can dance. Every time after work or on wedding festivities, reeds are played and danced. During festivals, dozens or even hundreds of reeds sing in unison, and the majestic and loud music can be heard clearly from more than ten miles away. 

In the Miao family, several grand reed festivals are held every year (the Miao language is called Jibee, which means climbing a high slope in Chinese). During the festival, the Miao people dressed up to go, and the reeds of various villages gathered on the slopes of the reeds. The usually quiet green hills and valleys suddenly merged into a sea of reeds singing and dancing. In the Gulong area of southeastern Guizhou, the Lusheng Festival is held for three days from September 27th to 29th of the lunar calendar every year. This has become a traditional festival of the Miao people. There are hundreds of thousands of men and women from the Miao family who participate in the Lusheng Festival. Not only the local Lusheng players compete to participate, but also the Lusheng players from several nearby counties and neighboring counties more than 100 miles away. , came with dry food to participate in the show. In happy festivals, the sound of reeds blowing and stepping, and the singing of men and women, one after another; young men and women communicate with each other and give gifts; old people laugh about harvest, women sing and dance, and the most attractive is the reed band. The competition is over. Dozens of reed teams compete in groups of two. There are both individual performances and collective dances. The reeds are played while dancing. The dance steps are sometimes lively and powerful, sometimes witty, sometimes spinning like flying, and a tight song. One after another, the reeds kept on, dance steps kept on, no new tunes were defeated, and the reed team with the brightest Quduos won, their reeds were hung with red ribbons, and the winning stockades and individuals were respected by people. During the Lusheng Festival, entertainment activities such as bullfighting and horse racing are also held at the same time, which adds to the joyful atmosphere of the festival.

Lusheng occupies a certain position in the love life of Miao youths, and the Miao family has a special relationship with Lusheng. When they date girls, Lusheng is the "matchmaker", and when he pours out his love, Lusheng becomes a wonderful "language". Often the girls come back from labor, cover the windows and embroider under the lights, and suddenly hear a familiar sound of reeds, they will jump up, walk through the house and step on the moon, and rush towards the place where the sound is emitted...

Reference materials and contributors
芦笙(百度百科)

Involving musical instruments

Lusheng (pinyin: lú shēng) is a reed instrument of the Miao, Yao, Dong and other ethnic groups in the southwest region. Its predecessor was the yu of the Han nationality.

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