Hui folk instrumental music

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Hui folk instrumental music

Applicant: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Project No.: 94

Project No.: Ⅱ - 63

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Protection unit: cultural center of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (intangible cultural heritage protection center of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, exhibition hall of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region)

Introduction to Hui folk instrumental music:

Applicant: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

In the long-term life practice and cultural activities, Ningxia Hui has inherited the ancient musical instruments and northwest frontier fortress musical instruments and their music, and gradually developed them into unique Hui folk musical instruments. In the last century, Chinese scholars of literature and history have proved that Wawu, Mimi and Kouxian in Ningxia are the evolution and remains of the ancient musical instruments Cuan, Qiang flute, reed and reed which have been popular in Ningxia since Han and Tang Dynasties. Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, wrote the verses of "Hu Chenqing, Yusai, Qiang flute, Jinzheng" and "I don't know who is blowing the reed pipe, and a night's journey to the Great Wall Grottoes", which are all true records of the local popular instrumental music after visiting Lingzhou in ancient Ningxia. Due to the changes of history, these musical instruments have been very rare among the Han nationality and other ethnic minorities in China, but they were still popular among the Hui people in Ningxia until the 20th century.

Ningxia Hui musical instruments have formed a unique performance skills, production technology and singing art. The Hui musical instrument "Bashi" (Master) can use the cross trembling fingers to blow out the brilliance which is difficult to appear on the high pitched Wawu. The Hui musical instruments made by Hui artists are like cattle heads and lambs. They are decorated with Hui art patterns and lines, and carved with Arabic calligraphy. They have distinctive Hui cultural characteristics. Because of their beautiful timbre, easy to play and easy to carry, they have been handed down from generation to generation among Ningxia Hui people. In some Hui villages, no matter young girls or old people with white hair, they have a small mouth, while gawa and young people of Hui nationality are good at blowing Mimi and Wawu. The proverb "Wawu sings, crops grow; Mimi blows, cattle and sheep grow" is a reflection of the custom of returning home. At present, the Hui women who wear headscarves and play the muzzle have been recognized as the image ambassadors of Ningxia Hui.

In recent decades, due to the influence of people's lifestyle changes and other factors, the social soil for the survival of Ningxia Hui instrumental music is rapidly disappearing, and the inheritance of instrumental music has encountered a crisis. The older generation of artists have changed careers, and many young people no longer know what Kouxian, Mimi and Wawu are. In order to effectively protect the Hui folk instrumental music in Ningxia, we should establish the protection mechanism and corresponding system as soon as possible, strengthen publicity, and strive for the wider attention of the whole society.