Jingxi Taiping drum

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Jingxi Taiping drum

Applicant: Mentougou District, Beijing

Item No.: 104

Project No.: Ⅲ - 1

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Beijing

Type: new item

Applicant: Mentougou District, Beijing

Protected by: Mentougou District Cultural Center, Beijing

Introduction to Jingxi Taiping drum

Applicant: Mentougou District, Beijing

Taiping drum is a folk dance for people to entertain themselves, inherit and develop collectively. It has a broad mass base and deep historical origin, and plays an important role in local folk activities.

Taiping drum has been popular in Beijing since the Ming Dynasty. In the early Qing Dynasty, Taiping drum was very popular inside and outside the capital. In the late Qing Dynasty, Taiping drum was introduced into Mentougou area. In history, many villages in Mentougou, men and women, young and old, almost all hit the Taiping drum. In the Qing Dynasty, the Taiping drum was also hit on the new year's Eve in the old calendar, which means "Taiping". Therefore, Beijing is also known as the "new year drum". Taiping drum is the most active in December and January every year. It is very attractive in the local folk activities. People's beating Taiping drum is the expectation of peace and prosperity. Playing Taiping drum can not only set off the festival atmosphere, but also reflect the festival customs in Beijing to some extent.

Taiping drum has a complete set of folk body language, such as: the rhythmic characteristics of "twist strength" and "tremble strength" formed by women's foot binding in the past, the unique "strength" and "gen strength" of male dancers, and the taste of chasing each other and men chasing women. In playing drums, pace and formation changes, it reflects the traditional Chinese aesthetic concept, which has a distinctive local color. As a symbol of this dance variety, Taiping drum, from the production process to the organic combination with dance movements, has gone beyond the simple function of musical instrument sound carrier, and become a strong symbol of regional culture in this area, which is a sign of local people's cultural identity.

Taiping drum is rooted in the folk, grows up in the folk, and flourishes in the folk. People's love of Taiping drum and old artists' persistence make Taiping drum continue. The development and innovation of folk Taiping drum will make folk artists' life full of vitality.