Guo Jianrong - Inheritor of Yi Folk Song and Dance Art in Weishan County, Dali 

Guo Jianrong (郭建荣, born 1968), from Qingyun Village (青云村), Ma’anshan Township (马鞍山乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Dali Prefecture (大理州), Yunnan Province (云南省), is a national-level representative inheritor of the Yi (彝族) Da Ge dance (打歌).

His artistic career spans the critical period when this traditional western Yunnan dance transitioned from rural ritual performance to modern stage presentation. As a living carrier of the “Step Song Culture” (踏歌文化) along the Lancang River (澜沧江), he has dedicated over 50 years to transforming Yi Da Ge from fireside entertainment into a nationally recognized cultural symbol. He is honored as the “Dance Soul Messenger of Nujiang Gorge” (怒江峡谷的舞魂使者).

Family Heritage and Artistic Training

Guo Jianrong was born into a family of Yi singers and musicians (歌师). His grandfather Guo Zhengqing (郭正清) and father Guo Jialin (郭家林) were both famous local lusheng (芦笙) players and lead singers (歌头).

From childhood, immersed in the local saying: “When you hear the cymbals, your feet will itch” (听见钹声响，脚杆都会痒), he fell in love with Yi Da Ge. As he recalled:

“My parents often told me that in the 1950s, Qingyun Yi Da Ge had performed in Beijing. From then, I dreamed of performing there myself and seeing the world outside.”

• He learned Yi Da Ge steps and mastered the da dao (大刀) and lusheng.

• Later, he apprenticed under folk artist Zuo Weizeng (左伟增), receiving systematic training in Yi Da Ge. Through diligent practice, he became a renowned Da Ge performer.

Guo Jianrong mastered various regional styles: the boldness of Dongshan Da Ge, the lively rhythm of Wuyin Da Ge, and the delicacy of Qinghua Da Ge. He also honed skills in lusheng and flute playing, becoming a versatile Yi song-and-dance artist capable of performing, composing, and instrument-making.

Core Skills and Artistic Style

Yi Da Ge Technique System

Guo Jianrong preserves the full movement vocabulary and ritual system of Yi Da Ge:

• Dance Techniques: Mastery of 168 Qingyun Da Ge steps, excelling in da dao dance and lusheng dance. His da dao performances are bold, vigorous, and expressive of Yi masculine strength.

• Music System: Proficient in drum rhythms and lusheng melodies, able to improvise for different occasions.

• Ritual Procedures: Strict adherence to complete performance protocols in festivals, weddings, and funerals, maintaining the Yi “dance as historical record” (以舞传史) cultural tradition.

Unique Artistic Style

• Movement Features: Each dance move emphasizes form and spirit; performances are energetic, passionate, and visually impactful.

• Dance Rhythm: Qingyun Da Ge features fast, varied steps and rich dance language; movements range from exuberant to gentle, creating strong visual and emotional effects.

• Performance Approach: As he instructs,

“Da Ge is not just skill—it requires physical strength. You must put all your energy into it!”

His performances integrate Yi cultural elements including daily life, customs, and religious beliefs, establishing Qingyun Da Ge as one of the most challenging folk dance forms.

Artistic Innovation and Adaptation

• Sword Techniques: Refined Qingyun da dao steps for smoother, rhythmic, and stage-friendly performances.

• Form Innovation: Integrated Yi Da Ge with modern physical education in Qingyun Primary School as a “Da Ge + Fitness” broadcast exercise.

• Content Expansion: Added new lyrics to ancient tunes, celebrating contemporary local life and blending tradition with modernity.

Three-Dimensional Transmission System

Guo Jianrong established a “Family + School + Community” transmission network:

1. Family Transmission

• Founded a family training studio, teaching youth on evenings and weekends.

• His son learns Da Ge, expected to be the fourth-generation inheritor.

2. School Education

• Since 2008, established a Weishan County folk dance heritage demonstration point.

• Collaborated with Qingyun Primary School to teach Da Ge during extracurricular classes; over 1,000 students have participated.

• Formed a campus Da Ge team with about 20 members, integrating dance with physical fitness.

3. Community Teaching

• Selected 30+ enthusiasts from surrounding villages to form the Qingyun Da Ge Art Troupe.

• Led performances locally and in other regions, preserving tradition while generating income.

• Notable students, such as Chang Guizhi, became national-level representative inheritors of Yi Da Ge.

• Currently, the village has 2 national, 1 provincial, and 7 county-level representative inheritors, forming a complete transmission hierarchy.

Cultural Communication and Innovation

National Platform Recognition

• Official Certification: Provincial-level inheritor (2002); national-level inheritor (2025).

• CCTV Stage Performance: In 2006, led troupe to perform at the first CCTV Chinese Folk Dance Gala, fulfilling his childhood dream.

• Awards:

  • 2009: Program Akelri won “Gold Award” at Yunnan Dajiale Folk Dance Competition.

  • 2010: Akelri won “Qunxing Award” nationally; Guo also awarded “Star of Folk Arts” (群文之星).

  • 2019: Weishan Da Ge won Yunnan Province Caile Cloud Award Gold Medal.

  • 2023: Won “Most Popular Night Performance Award” for Weishan Da Ge.

Tourism and Festival Innovation

• Festival Empowerment: Organizes large-scale Yi Da Ge performances during festivals, integrating innovative cross-genre programs.

• Tourism Integration: Designed immersive Yi Da Ge experiences at Weishan scenic sites, including instrument-making, dance workshops, and simple play enactments.

• Economic Empowerment: Annual performance income of 20,000–30,000 RMB per team member during off-season farming, encouraging local retention and sustainable cultural transmission.

Heritage Protection and Policy Practice

Systematic Preservation

• Digital Archiving: High-precision recording of core dance sequences and music.

• Theoretical Research: Collaborated with universities on Yi Da Ge studies.

• Transmission Mechanism: “Training Center + Art Troupe + Schools” creates a sustainable cultural ecosystem.

Policy and Community Support

• Secured heritage funding for equipment, props, and disciple support.

• Founded the Lancang River Yi Da Ge Lecture Troupe (澜沧江彝族打歌宣讲团), integrating cultural and policy education; series Ethnic Unity, One Family recognized by Yunnan Department of Culture.

• Featured in People’s Daily Overseas Edition as Mysterious Yi “Da Ge” (神秘的彝族“打歌”), expanding social influence.

Challenges and Innovative Solutions

Challenges:

• Generational Gap: Few young inheritors; long learning cycle.

• Market Limitation: Limited stage opportunities; low commercialization.

Solutions

• Economic Empowerment: Art troupe provides stable income, reducing rural outmigration.

• School Engagement: Over 200 students trained through school programs.

• Innovative Integration: Developed “Da Ge Fitness Exercise,” blending traditional rhythm with modern lifestyle.

Cultural Value and Contemporary Significance

Guo Jianrong’s work has threefold significance:

• Historical Research: Preserves Yi melodies and rituals as living models for western Yunnan Yi society, ancient conflict deterrence, harvest celebrations, and leisure culture.

• Ethnic Cohesion: Promotes unity among Yi, Han, and other ethnic groups; recognized as a “Model Team for Ethnic Unity in Yunnan.”

• Educational Innovation: His “Traditional Skills + Modern Education” model is a provincial heritage case study; teaching methods included in Yunnan Primary and Secondary Ethnic Arts Education Guidelines.

As Guo Jianrong says:

“Yi Da Ge is not just an art form; it is the root of our ethnic culture, and my lifelong commitment.”

Through balancing tradition and innovation, he has led Yi Da Ge from the Lancang River (澜沧江) to the international stage, exemplifying the diversity and unity of Chinese civilization.