Yan Cong – Inheritor of Wa Folk Dance in Ximeng County, Puer
普洱市西盟县佤族民间舞蹈传承人 – 岩聪
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2953.html
Na Huan – Inheritor of Wa Folk Song and Dance in Ximeng County, Puer
普洱市西盟县佤族民间歌舞传承人 – 娜唤
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2954.html
Chen Yufa (陈玉发) is a folk inheritor of Hani ethnic song and dance from Pugui Village (铺贵村), Yinyuan Town (因远镇), Yuanyang County (元江县), Yuxi City (玉溪市). He was born in 1952 and has loved Hani folk song and dance since childhood. At the age of 15, he became a disciple of the elder Chen Jiaobo (陈较波), systematically learning the Hani sacrificial dance. As a bearer of Hani culture, Chen Yufa not only mastered the traditional techniques of Hani song and dance, but also actively participated in efforts to preserve and promote them.
Ritual Origins:
The palm fan dance (棕扇舞) originated as part of the Hani funeral ritual called “Mo Cuocuo” (莫搓搓), intended to guide the soul of the deceased with the auspicious image of the silver pheasant bird.
Totem Worship:
It stems from ancient Hani totemic worship, with many dance movements imitating animal behaviors, such as “goat grazing,” “eagle catching chick,” and more.
Cultural Transmission:
The dance embodies Hani perspectives on history, ethics, values, and ways of thinking, preserving the cultural DNA of the Hani people.
Animal Imitation:
The choreography heavily imitates animal movements, including “bear washing its face,” “monkey bowing,” “monkey holding a melon,” and “eagle catching chick,” all vividly portrayed.
Movement Characteristics:
The dance features a dynamic yet grounded style: “steady on top, lively below; heavy but not loose; elevated but not floating; a balance of hardness and softness.” It has a rustic, vigorous, and humorous quality, often involving leg trembles, rising and falling stances, and swinging of both small and large arms.
Performance Forms:
There are solo, duet, and group formats. During performances, participants freely form circles — men on the inside, women on the outside. Elders dance first, followed by the younger generation.
Props:
Dancers hold palm leaves shaped like fans. Some performances also use a pair of bamboo tubes filled with rice, corn, buckwheat, silver chains, and copper coins, as well as several pine branches.
Accompaniment Instruments:
Instruments include mang (铓), drums (鼓), cymbals (钹), suona (唢呐), and sanxian (三弦), among others.
Transmission Methods:
Passed down through master-apprentice and family traditions, often led by respected elders to younger generations.
Evolution:
Originally a funeral and sacrificial rite, the dance has evolved into a cultural tourism experience, blending ethnic customs with song and dance performances.
The Hani palm fan dance is not just a form of art—it reflects the Hani people’s remembrance of their ancestors, reverence for nature, and longing for a beautiful life.
Having studied Hani ritual dance under Chen Jiaobo (陈较波), Chen Yufa has passed on these skills to the younger generation through the traditional master-apprentice model. He not only teaches Hani song and dance locally but also participates in cultural programs, training new inheritors in multiple batches.
Chen Yufa actively takes part in cultural performance events, showcasing traditional dances like the Hani palm fan dance to reveal the unique charm of Hani culture. These performances are not limited to local stages—they have reached wider audiences, helping more people appreciate Hani traditions.
He promotes Hani culture in schools and communities by organizing lectures and dance workshops, allowing more people to learn about Hani cultural traditions. These efforts have strengthened local identity and inspired more young people to participate in cultural preservation.
Chen Yufa experiments with integrating Hani culture into modern formats. By innovating the performance styles and content—such as incorporating modern music into traditional songs and dances—he brings new life and relevance to Hani heritage.
Chen Yufa also engages in international cultural exchanges, bringing Hani culture to the global stage. Through collaborations and dialogues with international friends, he not only promotes Hani traditions worldwide but also brings back advanced ideas on cultural preservation and transmission.
For Chinese version please go to:
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2919.html
Li Shengfang – Inheritor of Hani Manggu Drum Dance in Jianshui County, Honghe
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2920.html
Qian Wenming – Artist of Dai Folk Music and Dance in Tengchong City, Baoshan
宝山腾冲市荷花乡傣族民间音乐舞蹈艺人 – 钱文明
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2928.html
He Guowei (和国伟) was born in 1951, and he is Naxi ethnic minority, a member of Laoding village Daju Township, Lijiang City.(丽江大具乡劳丁村人).
He was a ninth-generation ancestor of Dongba and began to learn art at the age of twelve. Grandfather A Chong’an, father He Yuhe, uncles and grandfather are all famous old Dongba in the area. As a child, he loved the traditional culture and art of his own nation. Under the influence of the hereditary Dongba family and his diligent learning process, he mastered many singing tunes, dance performances and ritual performances of “sacrifice to heaven”, “sacrifice to god” and “sacrifice to wind” in Dongba Hall.
Chinese Version: http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2931.html Translated by Lynette Fu/ 付云锐
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2932.html
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2893.html
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2896.html
Yu Xianjun (余仙君), a member of the Lisu ethnic group (傈僳族), is a representative inheritor of the “Achimu Gua” (阿尺目刮) cultural heritage project in Yezhi Township (叶枝乡), Weixi County (维西县), Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州). Having grown up in Yezhi Town (叶枝镇), the birthplace of “Achimu Gua”, she was deeply influenced by this traditional art form from a young age. She learned its traditional vocal techniques, lyrics, and various dance forms from her elders and has actively participated in cultural events to showcase its charm and inspire wider interest and learning.
As a bearer of intangible cultural heritage, Yu Xianjun has taken her role seriously, training a new generation of young inheritors. She passes on the skills of “Achimu Gua” (阿尺目刮) through oral instruction and close mentorship, ensuring the authenticity and vitality of this traditional art form.
Yu Xianjun frequently participates in local ethnic festivals and cultural events such as Spring Festival, the Torch Festival, weddings, and religious ceremonies. These occasions provide vibrant stages for her to demonstrate the unique appeal of “Achimu Gua” and deepen public appreciation of Lisu cultural traditions.
“Achimu Gua” (阿尺目刮), meaning “Dance and Song of the Goat” or “Song Imitating Goat Sounds,” is a traditional self-entertaining folk dance of the Lisu people (傈僳族), widely practiced in Tongle (同乐) and Xinle (新乐) villages of Yezhi Town (叶枝镇), Weixi County (维西县).
This art form uses no instrumental accompaniment. From beginning to end, participants dance and sing simultaneously. The musical structure consists of a lead singer and chorus, with lyrical themes that span from ancient myths to present-day life and work, making it rich in cultural expression.
Both the movements and vocalizations mimic goats and scenes from nomadic life, exuding a strong sense of primal vitality and natural rhythm. The dance is passionate and uninhibited in style, retaining its traditional folk artistry and authenticity.
“Achimu Gua” (阿尺目刮) is not only a powerful medium for expressing the emotions and ideas of the Lisu people but also a vital link for enhancing ethnic cohesion and promoting social harmony. In 2009, it was officially listed in the Yunnan Province Intangible Cultural Heritage Directory.
Through her mentorship, cultural participation, and creative contributions, Yu Xianjun (余仙君) has made a significant impact on preserving and revitalizing the Lisu “Achimu Gua” (阿尺目刮), playing a key role in the ongoing protection and development of this intangible cultural heritage.
For Chinese version please go to:
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2899.html
Li Shida, male, Lisu ethnicity, was born in 1945 in Xinglong Village (兴隆村), Jinjiang Town (金江镇), Shangri-La City (香格里拉市), Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省). He is a renowned master of traditional Lisu musical instruments, specializing in performing and crafting the earth lute (“Jizi” (吉资) in Lisu language) and three-stringed lute (“Qiben” (起本)).
Growing up in a multi-ethnic village inhabited by Pumi (普米), Han (汉), Naxi (纳西), Lisu (傈僳), Bai (白), Miao (苗), Yi (彝), Tibetan (藏), and Hui (回) groups, Li inherited his musical passion from his parents – celebrated local singers known for their improvisational folk songs. He began learning Lisu music and dance from his father during childhood.
Li has mastered multiple traditional instruments including:
His repertoire encompasses diverse Lisu folk songs:
As a lead performer of “Waqiqi” (瓦器器) dance (an 18-segment dance featuring “Twelve Steps” footwork), Li excels in both dancing and musical accompaniment.
His family band is highly sought-after for important local events. During agricultural off-seasons, they tour neighboring villages to promote Lisu folk arts. As a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor, Li actively teaches younger generations.
Li’s work has significantly contributed to preserving Lisu culture by:
His efforts have made Lisu music and dance vital components of Diqing’s (迪庆) intangible cultural heritage.
As a master performer, Li has achieved technical excellence while making outstanding contributions to sustaining and developing Lisu traditional arts in modern society.
For Chinese version please go to:
http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2901.html
Yan Cong – Inheritor of Wa Folk Dance in Ximeng County, Puer 普洱市西盟县佤族民间舞蹈传承人 – 岩聪 http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2953.html...
Na Huan – Inheritor of Wa Folk Song and Dance in Ximeng County, Puer 普洱市西盟县佤族民间歌舞传承人 – 娜唤 http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2954.html...
Chen Yufa (陈玉发) is a folk inheritor of Hani ethnic song and dance from Pugui Village (铺贵村), Yinyuan Town (因远镇), Yuanyang County (元江县), Yuxi City (玉溪市). He was born...
Li Shengfang – Inheritor of Hani Manggu Drum Dance in Jianshui County, Honghe Lǐ Shēngfāng is a representative inheritor of the Hānízú Chángǔwǔ (哈尼族铓鼓舞) project in Pōtóu Xiāng, Jiànshuǐ...
Qian Wenming – Artist of Dai Folk Music and Dance in Tengchong City, Baoshan 宝山腾冲市荷花乡傣族民间音乐舞蹈艺人 – 钱文明 http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-2928.html...
Profile: He Guowei (和国伟) was born in 1951, and he is Naxi ethnic minority, a member of Laoding village Daju Township, Lijiang City.(丽江大具乡劳丁村人). Personal Experiences He was a ninth-generation ancestor...
He Guoyao (和国耀) is a Naxi Dongba culture inheritor from Da Ju Township (大具乡), Yu Long County (玉龙县), Lijiang City (丽江市). Born into a family with a long-standing tradition...
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Li Mingfa (李发明) is an inheritor of the Yi Suona performance art in Ren He Town (仁和镇), Yong Sheng County (永胜县), Lijiang City (丽江市). He has left a solid...
Yu Xianjun (余仙君), a member of the Lisu ethnic group (傈僳族), is a representative inheritor of the “Achimu Gua” (阿尺目刮) cultural heritage project in Yezhi Township (叶枝乡), Weixi County...
Profile of Li Shida Li Shida, male, Lisu ethnicity, was born in 1945 in Xinglong Village (兴隆村), Jinjiang Town (金江镇), Shangri-La City (香格里拉市), Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (迪庆藏族自治州), Yunnan Province...
Meet Li Xuehua: The Guardian of Lisu “Qiben” Music in Lushui City In the heart of the Nujiang Valley, where the echoes of tradition meet the beauty of nature,...
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