Qinghai Yuexian

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Qinghai Yuexian

Applicant: Xining City, Qinghai Province

Item No.: 786

Project No.: V - 93

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: quyi

Region: Qinghai Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Xining City, Qinghai Province

Protection unit: Xining Cultural Center

Brief introduction of Qinghai Yuexian

Applicant: Xining City, Qinghai Province

Qinghai Yuexian, also known as "Yuediao", "yuebeidiao" and "beidiao", is also recorded as "Yuediao", "Quzi" or "zuochangmeihu". It is mainly spread in the eastern agricultural areas of Qinghai Province, with Xining in Hehuang Valley and its Datong County, Huangzhong County and Huangyuan County as the most popular collection. Qinghai Yuexian was introduced into Qinghai from Shaanxi Province in the middle of Qing Dynasty. In the long-term spreading process, artists absorbed a large number of Qinghai Folk Tunes and ancient tunes, enriched and transformed the original Yuexian from the aspects of language, intonation, singing and style, and finally made it a unique local music in Qinghai.

Qinghai Yuexian mainly narrates the story by singing, the lyrics are popular, the aria structure follows the inherent rules, the front fork tune is used at the beginning, followed by the front North Palace tune; the back fork tune is used at the end, and the later North Palace tune is placed in front of it; the main part of the middle should choose the tune according to the needs of the content. Qinghai Yuexian singing music is rich, has recorded more than 50 tunes, these tunes are beautiful and moving, smooth stretch, rigid and soft, with a variety of expressive force, good at both narrative and lyric. During the performance, the performer comes on stage with a pair of bells commonly known as "Shuizi" in his hand, which not only strike the knot, but also serve as stage props. In addition, Banhu, erhu, Yangqin, Sanxian, Bangzi and other musical instruments are accompanied in the singing process. There are more than 100 pieces of Yuexian traditional repertoire in Qinghai recorded, most of which are based on legends of Tang and Song Dynasties, Zaju of Jin and Yuan Dynasties, novels of Ming and Qing Dynasties, especially on folk life. There are a number of representative works such as xiaoguxian, baowanji, qiulianshichai, etc.

As an important carrier of the history and culture of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Yuexian has a certain impact on the formation of local residents' values, outlook on life and folk customs. As an important folk art heritage, it has the research value of musicology, ci poetry and so on. It provides valuable research materials for the spread of Central Plains culture in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the migration and evolution history of Qinghai people. At present, the survival of Pingxian in Qinghai is in crisis, and the inheritance and development of Pingxian is in great difficulty, which is in urgent need of protection.