As a municipal intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Naxi instrumental music pipa making technique, Mr. Zhao Yicai is not only an excellent pipa maker, but also the soul guardian of this ancient technique. In his hands, each pipa carries the weight of the history and culture of the Naxi people for thousands of years, and he continues to write the life chapter of this precious cultural heritage in his own way.

"In 1995, when I returned to Lijiang after retiring from Diqing Prefecture, I learned instrument making skills from old craftsmen such as He Wenxuan and Chen Rulin. It was almost 30 years ago." Recalling the past, Zhao Yicai was filled with emotion.

At Zhao Yicai's home in the pharmaceutical community in Gucheng District, a balcony has been converted into a studio. Although the space is limited, wood, planer, saw, chisel and other materials and tools are available.

First meet Zhao Yicai, he is wearing an apron, concentrated on the production of Musical Instruments "fast Gu Du". A pair of hands full of age marks but dexterous, gently caressed every grain on the wood, as if in a silent dialogue with this ancient instrument.

Zhao Yicai is an expert in the production of Quxiang pipa, "Suigudu", Zhonghu, Jinghu and other ethnic instruments. With his extraordinary ingenuity and wisdom, he quietly cultivates the way of inheriting Naxi Quxiang pipa making skills. In February 2018, Zhao Yicai was identified as the municipal non-genetic inheritor of Naxi instrumental music pipa production skills under the provincial intangible Heritage project.

Traditional skills "live" in the present

Quxiang Pipa is one of the main instruments of Dongjing music in Lijiang. The existing Lijiang Quxiang pipa well preserves the shape, taste, setting and traditional playing skills of the middle and late Tang Dynasty Quxiang pipa. Its selection of local rich mountain wood, walnut wood, pear wood, pure manual production, the performance method is directly played by fingers, the performer and the instrument into one, forming a natural and simple, the harmony of the piano and the wonderful mood.

In December 2022, the pipa making skills of Naxi Musical Instruments were included in the fifth batch of representative items of intangible cultural heritage in Yunnan Province.

Non-genetic inheritance mainly relies on words and examples, inheritors master the core knowledge and exquisite skills, is an important carrier and transmitter, has the core and irreplaceable. However, with the impact of modern manufacturing technology and the change of the environment of intangible heritage, Quxiang pipa making skills have no successors and are facing the dilemma of inheritance. With his indomitable spirit and ingenious wisdom, Zhao Yicai has made the Quxiang pipa, an ancient musical instrument, full of new vigor and vitality in contemporary times.

Zhao Yicai is a famous Quxiang pipa maker in Lijiang. He is always full of love and adherence to traditional skills. He carefully studied the material objects of his ancestors, relied on his deep carpenter's skills and playing skills, and constantly refined the making process of Quxiang pipa, adding sound columns and sound Bridges on the basis of retaining traditional techniques. In the past 30 years, he has made more than 90 Quxiang pipa, and hundreds of instruments such as "Sogu Du", Zhonghu, Low Hu and Jinghu. The pipa made by him is exquisite and delicate, smooth and warm to the touch, pure and bright in tone, which is highly respected by local ancient bands and musicians.

"The piano originates from life and goes beyond life, it is material in itself but carries the spirit." Handmade, each one is unique." In Zhao Yicai's view, no matter how advanced the machine is, it can never replace manual production. He said: "I need about 20 days to make a piano, from the selection of wood to the finished product, there are dozens of processes. The most important part of making a violin is the strings and scales. Scales need to be tested one by one. The standard is heard by the ear." The quxiang pipa made by Zhao Yicai has a flat, smooth face like a glass plate. Three boards put together, tightly stitched together.

Shou art and innovation burst into new energy

"I taught myself to be a carpenter from the age of 20. How do you make Musical Instruments without carpentry?" Zhao Yicai said that he has been very interested in music since he was a child. "At the age of 16, I took my first erhu and joined the Naxi Gu Band in my village. Since then, I have been learning to make Musical Instruments from old artisans who are proficient in handicrafts."

A person, a knife, a piece of material, he carefully watched and figured out every production step, studied the physical objects left by the ancestors, and gradually learned to make huqin and pipa, and can also proficiently play "Suigudu", Quxiang pipa and other instruments.

In recent years, the ancient urban area has continuously strengthened the protection of intangible cultural heritage, explored the effective path of non-hereditary development, and injected fresh blood into the integrated development of culture and tourism. Quxiang pipa production skills have been protected and inherited at the same time, but also produced good economic benefits, many ancient music lovers came to Zhao Yicai's studio to buy instruments. Zhao Yicai said with a smile: "Relying on intangible cultural heritage technology can make money, but I think intangible cultural heritage should not stop here, but should devote themselves to studying the production process of Quxiang pipa, and constantly optimize and innovate, so that it can realize creative value while maintaining the essence of intangible cultural heritage art." It is this dedication and pursuit of art that make Zhao Yicai's Musical Instruments not only sought after in the market, but also perfectly carry his original heart and love for non-genetic inheritance.

Blending into life is the best inheritance

Life is always the fertile soil of excellent traditional culture. Naxi Quxiang pipa is still inherited after thousands of years, which has proved that they are not "fragile" and can withstand the test of life.

Zhao Yicai said that only by letting more people understand and love this skill can it really be passed on. Therefore, he devoted himself to training and tutoring the younger generation of musicians to make Quxiang pipa. His studio became an open "school", and a group of young musicians and producers such as Zhengen and Yonghui grew up, and their production of Qu Xiang pipa became better and better in shape and sound, and more people began to pay attention to and understand this ancient instrument.

Today, despite being over 70 years old, Zhao Yicai is still hale and clear. In his studio, the sound of wood tapping and the sound of a quxiang pipa echoed, as if to tell his persistence and love. "I hope more and more young people will learn intangible heritage skills, so that the melodious music can spread further." Zhao Yicai said.