A Zhanyu - Inheritor of Bulang "Shange" Folk Song in Shidian County, Baoshan 

Azhan Yu (阿占玉) is a cultural inheritor of Blang (布朗族) folk songs from Mulaoyuan Township (木老元乡), Shidian County (施甸县), Baoshan City (保山市), Yunnan Province. She is also recognized as a provincial-level representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage (second batch). Born in 1948 in a Blang community, she showed extraordinary musical talent from an early age and was praised as someone who has “folk songs in every cell.” Her singing style is distinctive, marked by effortless breath control and masterful emotional expression, which earned her the title of “Outstanding Singer.” As a folk artist with exceptional performance and creative abilities, she has played a leading role in preserving and promoting Blang folk songs, making her an important contributor to local ethnic cultural heritage.

Background and Artistic Development

• Birth & Identity: Female, born in 1948, Blang ethnicity, from Laoyuan Village (老元村), Mulaoyuan Township, Shidian County.

• Early Talent: From childhood, she loved singing and demonstrated remarkable talent—able to memorize and reproduce even the most complex songs after just one hearing.

• Self-Taught Growth: Without formal training, she relied on intuition and improvisation, turning her emotions and thoughts into song.

• Lineage of Transmission: While her own teachers are not clearly documented, her disciple Yang Ziju (杨自菊) first studied under Li Guiming (李贵明, known as the “Queen of Blang Songs”) before apprenticing with Azhan Yu. This formed the lineage: Li Guiming → Azhan Yu → Yang Ziju.

Artistic Achievements and Style

• Vocal Technique: Distinguished by natural breath control and expressive delivery, earning recognition as a “Special-Grade Singer.”

• Artistic Style: She conveys her innermost feelings through song, using folk songs to express personal emotions and collective beliefs of the Blang people.

• Improvisation: Skilled in spontaneous composition, she integrates daily life, experiences, and reflections into her songs, embodying the Blang tradition of “singing from what one sees and feels.”

Contributions and Representative Works

Although detailed records of her individual works are limited, her impact is widely recognized:

Transmission Philosophy

• Apprentices: Yang Ziju is her most prominent disciple.

• Method: Oral teaching and personal demonstration, embodying “heart-to-heart” transmission.

• Approach: Generously passed on her singing skills and creative insights to younger generations.

Cultural Significance of Blang Folk Songs

• Historical Roots: The Blang are one of the oldest ethnic groups in southwest China, mainly distributed across Baoshan, Lincang, Pu’er, and Xishuangbanna, with a population of about 127,000.

• Language & Tradition: Without a written script, the Blang relied on oral traditions—especially folk songs—to preserve history, beliefs, social norms, and collective memory.

• Musical Features:

  • Core Tunes: Based on three ancient modes—Zhuai (拽), Zai (宰), and Suo (索)—alongside related forms like Zai Beng, Zai Zhong, and Tong Ma.

  • Genres: Include work songs, ritual songs, migration songs, laments, praises, love songs, children’s songs, lyrical epics, and long narrative poems.

  • Classic Repertoire: Works such as Pangu Ben (盘古本), Pan Tianhe (盘天河), Zao Dachuan (造大船, also called “Luban Song”), and Jiazi Folk Song (甲子山歌).

  • Performance Forms: Solo, duet, and group singing.

  • Vocal Style: Smooth, bright, and delicate, often with distinctive vibrato and glides, particularly evident in women’s voices.

Current Challenges

• Oral Tradition Risks: Reliance on oral transmission makes the heritage vulnerable when elder artists pass away.

• Modern Pressures: Younger generations often leave for urban opportunities, weakening cultural continuity.

• Preservation Efforts: Government and cultural institutions have strengthened protection measures, recognizing artists like Azhan Yu as intangible heritage bearers.

• Innovation: Through apprenticeships and media exposure, she has breathed new vitality into the tradition.

Conclusion

Azhan Yu, as a guardian of Blang folk song culture, has safeguarded, revitalized, and spread this ancient art form. Her artistry and dedication exemplify the deep love and responsibility of a folk artist toward her people’s heritage, ensuring that Blang cultural identity and diversity continue to flourish.