“Bai Yue Culture”
The ethnic minority groups in the Guizhou and Guangxi areasare Zhuang, Yao, Miao (known as “Hmong” in the west), Shui, Mulam, Maonan, andJing, etc. All these southern ethnic groups have ancestral roots that can betraced back to the Baiyue, Wuximan and Shiqiang peoples of ancient China.Their ethnic cultures developed along related ancestral lines and often sharesimilar linguistic traits, as well as similarities of social and culturalbackground and ethnic character. Many of them retained remnants of a primitive,clan-based culture until the beginning of the last century. The lack ofadequate transportation and absence of outside influence created self-containedsocieties where ancient tribal customs and traditions prevailed. Among themfolk song festivals were preserved as an age-old custom of open selection ofmarriage partners and courtship activities for young men and women fromdifferent tribes. The “Bai Yue” cultures share a similar aesthetic sense towardfolk songs and song festivals. Although solos and duets are popular, choralsinging predominates. These songs are sung antiphonally by separate groups ofmen and women .
The “Bai Yue” cultures also offer a variety of opportunitiesfor group performances in daily life. For example, when guests enter a Miao, Yao or Dong ethnic villageat certain time, they may be welcomed by Lusheng music (Lusheng is a reed-pipewind instrument which produces a sound similar to that of Scottish bagpipes,but it is more often applied to happy tunes). At the entrance to the village,two bamboo poles may be set up horizontally to block the road. One might seeembroidered shoe-pads made by young women in the village and eggs dyed red forauspiciousness hung by red threads from the poles. The young women dress intraditional ethnic clothes and hold ox-horn cups filled with rice wine whilethey sing behind the poles. This is a ceremony for “lanlu” (blocking the road)wine drinking. After the guests drink lanlu wine, the shoe-pads and red eggsare hung around their necks. When they eventually arrive at the singing-and-dancingground in the center of the village, they can join the group and dance joyfullyto the lively Lusheng rhythm. The performance may last from morning till midnight with some breaks for eating.
