Enshi Prefecture has a profound ethnic culture, which has nourished generations of people under the long river of history. Xuan'en was called "barbarian" in ancient times, and it is one of the birthplaces and spread areas of "Yi Geba Dance". The ethnic culture is rich and colorful. The typical culture represents the folk dance of the Miao people - the monkey drum, which is a beautiful business card. . Due to environmental geography, cultural differences and other reasons, its names are also different, such as tune drum, monkey drum, Miao drum and so on.

The origin of the monkey drum is full of magical colors. According to legend, a long time ago, there was an ancient temple in the Miao District. The monkey entered the temple to steal the fruit and accidentally hit the Miao drum. Suddenly fell in love with the drum, and couldn't help dancing to the sound of the drum. The scene of the monkey playing the drum and dancing happened to be seen by the young man, and he thought it was very interesting, so he secretly learned the whole process of the monkey playing the drum. After returning to the village, the youth transformed into various dance movements based on the jumping movements of the monkey drum and taught the Miao people in the village. Everyone thinks that this kind of drum beat is novel and beautiful, full of dynamic beauty, and they all learn this style of play. Because this style of play imitates the movements of monkeys, the Miao people call it "Monkey Drum", and it has been popularized as a sacrificial dance in the "drum-stepping" ceremony when they return to the important festival of Daniel Wish. up to now.

The Miao folk dance "Monkey Drum" is a dance performed by three or more men who imitate various habits and drumming postures of monkeys. During the performance, one drummer plays the drum behind the drum, the other drum faces the dancers who wear monkey costumes and draw monkey faces, and the rest of the people dance in groups with the change of the drum rhythm. People can't take their eyes off it, and it is deeply loved by the locals. The dance moves are mostly inspired by monkeys, drawing on the flexible vertical jumping characteristics of monkeys, and combining the techniques of point, hitting, clap, and knocking in martial arts, imitating the characteristics of monkeys' agility, cleverness, and active movement to make various movements.

The usual props of the performance are bass drums, drum sticks and drum stands, and the music is accompanied by drum beats. The main dance moves include monkey playing drums, listening to drums, dragging drums, climbing trees upside down, stealing fruit offerings, etc., as well as actions that bring people's agricultural life atmosphere, such as planting rice, digging soil, threshing, grinding, and combing hair. , spinning, etc. The performers sometimes hit the sides of the drums, and sometimes the heads of the drums. The whole "inspiration" is not only funny, enthusiastic, and highly skilled, but also accompanied by a certain dramatic plot, which makes people's eyes shine.

In the traditional monkey drum, the performers are male. Later, with the development of the times, female monkey drum appeared. "Monkey Drum" pays attention to both form and spirit, vivid and lifelike, and the pace is brisk and powerful. It is a splendid treasure in the garden of national culture. Monkey drums are played in various forms and eclectic. Over the years, the monkey drum, as a unique traditional national art, has been inherited and protected through the unremitting efforts of all parties, making it gradually become a pure national entertainment dance, which can be obtained in the sea of joy. Newborn, exudes new charm.