National musical instrument making skills (Miao Lusheng making skills)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: national musical instrument making skills (Miao Lusheng making skills)

Applicant: Kaili City, Guizhou Province

Project No.: 907

Project No.: VIII - 124

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guizhou Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Kaili City, Guizhou Province

Protection unit: Kaili Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

A brief introduction to the techniques of making national musical instruments (the techniques of making Lusheng of Miao nationality)

Applicant: Kaili City, Guizhou Province

Lusheng is a multi reed musical instrument loved by the Miao people. It is not only used for folk entertainment, but also as famous as wooden drum and bronze drum. The folk believe that Lusheng can bring good weather and abundant grain, and also can communicate with gods and ancestors. Lusheng has a long history, which is recorded in Chuci, xintangshu and Qianshu.

In Xinguang village, Zhouxi Town, Kaili City, Guizhou Province, there are 128 Miao families with the surname pan, and now there are 38 Lusheng craftsmen. According to the existing genealogy of Xinguang, they have lived in Xinguang for 19 generations, which should be more than 500 years. Craftsmen have made Lusheng for generations, using simple tools, locally produced bamboo and purchased Xiangtong to make Lusheng with beautiful shape and excellent sound quality. Xinguang is a well-known "Lusheng village" far and near. It is also the only place in China to make a giant Lusheng that can be played by hand. It is named as "the hometown of Lusheng making art" by Guizhou Provincial Department of culture.

The traditional Lusheng of Miao nationality made by Kaili Xinguang is a six tube Lusheng, which follows the traditional Chinese pentatonic scale. The intonation accuracy of the sounding brass reed is determined by the craftsman's unique ability to distinguish sounds. Their hand-made reed can make the intonation accuracy of all the main playing Lusheng absolutely the same. Each group of 5-7 Lusheng ensembles also conforms to the principle of harmony and acoustics. The tips and unique skills of making Lusheng of the Miao Nationality in Xinguang are handed down from father to son, from son to son, from generation to generation. Learners can only rely on their own understanding and feeling in practice, and constantly accumulate experience and gradually realize it. With smart mind and dexterous hands, the Lusheng they made is not only a musical instrument, but also an exquisite handicraft.