Napo Zhuang Folk Songs

Napo Zhuang Folk Songs

Napo Zhuang, also known as "Heiyizhuang", is a unique ethnic group among the Zhuang people. It calls itself "Min", "Zhong", "Ouch". Now there are about 518,000 people. They are named for their all-black clothes. They mainly live in Napo County, Guangxi, which is located on the border between China and Vietnam. Napo Zhuang folk song is a folk song that they have sung from generation to generation. In the long history, Heiyizhuang still preserves ancient, complete and colorful folk songs, and is known as the "rich mine of Guangxi national music" and the "living fossil" of Zhuang folk songs.

The Zhuang people in black can not only sing, but also dance well. In some villages in Napo County where black clothes are strong and live together, from three-year-old children to ancient rare elderly people can dance with ancient music, such as welcome dance, black gun dance, wedding dance, last general dance and so on. The scene is magnificent. Heiyizhuang's clothes with black as beauty, original and beautiful folk songs even developed into two-part ensemble, the melody is soft and long.

On May 20, 2006, Napo Zhuang folk songs were listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list with the approval of the State Council.

historical origin

Napo Mountain Song has a long history, diverse forms and rich content. In the long process of development, Napo Zhuang folk songs have formed the characteristics of interdependence with folk customs, rich and colorful content and original ecology. Besides the functions of communication, propaganda, education and entertainment, Napo Zhuang folk songs have historical, academic, artistic and practical values. They are the relics of the ancient ballad culture of the Zhuang nationality.

artistic characteristics

Point by tone

It can be divided into six categories, i.e. albeit sensitive, ni's ah, lun, Chunniu tune, inviting celestial song and pan-sharp, about 160 sets. Among them, "Nidi" is the meaning of "good" in Napo Zhuang Language of Guangxi, and is commonly used as a lining in folk songs spread in Heiyizhuang living areas. The "Nide'a" folk song has become the symbol of the music of the Zhuang nationality because of its fresh and bright tune and unique artistic charm.

By content

Napo Zhuang folk songs mainly include narrative songs of myths and legends, biographies of characters, environmental changes, historical events, etc; songs of bitterness pouring out misery and complaining oppression; agricultural songs reflecting nature and life experience; eulogies for beautiful scenery; ritual songs for receiving people and things; folk songs expressing traditional customs; sacrificial songs mourning mourning; sacrificial songs celebrating the full moon of marriage, the completion of new residence and the birthday of the elderly. A toast song. The most abundant are love songs, which contain more than 20 kinds of content, such as lyric, first love, even love, teasing, gambling, esteem, pledge, praise, acacia, loyalty, separation, exhortation, regret, nostalgia, reunion, bitterness, sigh, struggle, old age and so on.

Representative Works

Representational repertoires include "Although entertaining guests", "On the Creation", "Liquor Song", "Pange", "Song of ancestors worship" and so on.

Inheritance Significance

At the opening ceremony of Nanning International Folk Song Festival in November 2001, Heiyizhuang shocked four people by showing his beautiful black clothes and singing folk songs. So far, it has attracted the attention of scholars, musicians and photographers both at home and abroad, and has gone deep into the Dashi Mountain to suck the nutrition of art.

Due to the changes in the cultural space for survival and development, the disappearance of the main ways of inheritance, the shrinking of the activity venues and the fault between teachers and inheritors, Heiyizhuang ballads are facing a severe crisis of inheritance. Therefore, it is imperative to rescue, dig, sort out and protect the songs of the Black Clothes Zhuang.