Yi People's Sanxian dance (Sani big Sanxian)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Yi Sanxian dance

Applicant: Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

Item No.: 672

Project No.: Ⅲ - 75

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Yunnan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

Protection unit: Shilin Yi Autonomous County Cultural Center

A brief introduction of Yi People's Sanxian dance (Sani big Sanxian)

Applicant: Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province

The Yi People's Sanxian dance is a kind of folk dance passed down from generation to generation. In leisure or joy, the Yi people often dance it. Different regions and different branches of Yi have different appellations for Sanxian dance. Sanxian dance, which is popular in Axi Yi area, is called "Axi tiaoyue", and Sani big Sanxian, which is popular in Sani Yi area. Sanxian dance is a group dance, both men and women can participate in, but only men use Sanxian dance, women just dance with rhythm. The three string dance of Yi nationality can be divided into two types: big three string dance and small three string dance. Young people use big three string dance when they dance, so it is called "big three string dance"; middle-aged and old people use small three string dance when they dance, so it is called "small three string dance". Big three string dance has a long history. In recent decades, it is often seen in large-scale celebrations and film and television programs, so it has a high reputation in China. Comparatively speaking, the music and dance rhythm of small three string dance is slow, so it is also called "slow three steps". For a long time, the Yi People's Sanxian dance, which creates a happy and peaceful atmosphere, has been playing a positive role in enhancing group consciousness and promoting national unity. It is praised as the "living fossil" of ancient dance by relevant scholars, and provides a large number of valuable materials with high cognitive value for the study of the origin and development of dance.

Most of the Yi people living in Shilin and Qiubei of Yunnan are Sani people. It is said that long ago, a beautiful Sani girl ran away to avoid the forced marriage of the chieftain. She met a Sani guy halfway and fell in love with each other. She lit a bonfire and danced around. Taking the fire as evidence, she married and formed a Sani big three string dance. In addition, there is a kind of Sani people rush to grow crops and jump in the land after burning, later developed into Sani big three string.

The big Sanxian is the main musical instrument for Sani people to entertain and express their emotions. Its production is very simple. First, a section of Chinese toon tree is chiseled into a round hollow, and one end is covered with goat skin. Then, the pine tree which is more than one meter long is processed into a Sanxian rod, and three pieces of Medium leather thread are used to make the big Sanxian.

Big three string dance is also called "fast three steps". It is a kind of folk collective dance developed by Sani people by learning from Axi tiaoyue. Its basic step is three steps and one kick. When dancing, the formation is changed according to this step, which is called "fast three steps". When the jump is fast three steps, the young man holds the big three strings, accompanied by the middle flute, the small flute and the whistle. At the sound of the flute, the young men are playing and dancing, while the young women are holding hands and stepping on the rhythm of the music in a zigzag horizontal line. They jump to the young men in quick steps. Both sides take three steps to kick their feet, clapping their hands and dancing happily. Young women usually turn 360 degrees after three steps. Because of the large amount of exercise, they need to take a rest for four or five minutes each time. The fast three-step dance, with bright rhythm and passionate mood, is more suitable for young people, so it is called "Youth Dance" or "big three string dance". Every night, the whistle is crisp, the golden flute is singing together, and the tight and urgent string sound is rough and neat. Young men and women dance face to face with the melody of "1, 3, 5", and take three steps to get up. At the same time, they are accompanied by singing and the voice of "Oh Oh", forming a joyful and exciting sound wave together with the string sound and applause.

At present, every Sani family in Shilin area has big Sanxian dance, and everyone can dance big Sanxian dance. In order to better carry forward the national traditional culture and continue the "grass-roots context", it is necessary to further develop strategies to protect the smooth development and inheritance of Sani big three string dance.

Chinese PinYin : Yi Zu San Xian Wu Sa Ni Da San Xian