Guo Xilin - Yi Lusheng Player in Yao'an County, Chuxiong

Introduction

Guo Zilin (郭自林) is a Yi (彝族) musician and gourd pipe (葫芦笙, hulusi) maker from Mayou Village (马游村), Guantun Township (官屯乡), Yao’an County (姚安县), Chuxiong Prefecture (楚雄州), Yunnan Province. Born in 1963, he is recognized as a provincial-level representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage (second batch).

Guo Zilin is a rare dual-expert—both a performer and a craftsman of the hulusi. He has mastered the performance of 9-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch hulusi and developed innovative production methods, including the “mother-child hulusi” (子母笙) and seven-pipe hulusi, improving traditional tuning systems. His instruments are celebrated for pure tones, bright sound, and exquisite craftsmanship, commissioned by provincial and prefectural song-and-dance troupes and museums.

Since 2009, he has taught hulusi dance and music at Mayou Primary School, cultivating generations of intangible heritage inheritors.

Early Life and Training

Guo Zilin’s training was largely self-directed within the Yi cultural environment, nurtured by the rich Meige (梅葛) cultural tradition of Mayou Village, a key birthplace of Yi Meige music and hulusi culture.

Artistic Achievements

Performance Skills

• Mastery of 9-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch hulusi, especially 15-inch bass hulusi, requiring high strength and skill.

• Performs with traditional Yi flavor and personal innovation, accurately expressing Yi cultural emotions.

Craftsmanship and Innovation

• Developed a unique hulusi production method with meticulous material selection.

• Produced hulusi with bright, pure tones and refined craftsmanship.

• Innovated mother-child hulusi and seven-pipe hulusi, expanding musical range and expressiveness.

• Standardized tuning based on national musical pitch standards, improving intonation and performance.

• Commissioned by provincial/prefectural troupes, museums, and cultural organizations.

Meige Culture Integration

• Guo Zilin is also a Meige song performer, considered a rare talent among Meige inheritors.

• In Mayou Village, hulusi performance and Meige singing are closely linked, often performed together as “play three-string, sound hulusi, sing Meige”.

• His work bridges instrumental and vocal traditions, enriching local Yi cultural expressions.

Teaching and Cultural Transmission

• Since 2009, he teaches hulusi dance and music at Mayou Primary School, training students in both performance and instrument making.

• Participates in public intangible heritage courses and local exhibitions, demonstrating the hulusi-making process and musical techniques.

• Believes that Meige and hulusi heritage are both a Yi and broader Chinese cultural responsibility, combining traditional techniques with modern education practices.

• Promotes inclusivity: although traditionally male-focused, he teaches all students regardless of gender.

Contributions to Yi Culture

1. Cultural Preservation: Safeguards rare hulusi-making skills, ensuring continuity of Yi musical heritage.

2. Cultural Transmission: Through school and community programs, he passes on performance and craftsmanship skills to younger generations.

3. Cultural Innovation: Created new instruments and tuning systems, merging traditional techniques with modern music standards, enhancing artistic and market value.

Yi Hulusi Cultural Background in Yao’an County

• Hulusi is known as the “king of Yi instruments”, central to daily life, festivals, weddings, and funerals.

• Yao’an County is a key center for Yi hulusi culture, influencing Chu Xiong, Dayao, Yongren, and surrounding areas.

• Since 2007, the Yao’an Yi Hulusi Cultural Festival has become an annual cultural event celebrating this heritage.

Preservation and Current Status

• Yao’an County has established national, provincial, prefectural, and county-level protection systems for intangible cultural heritage.

• Mayou Village is a provincial-level traditional culture protection zone, with Guo Zilin’s “Zilin Yi Hulusi Craft Workshop” supported by local government.

• Efforts ensure that Yi hulusi culture remains vibrant and relevant in modern society.

Conclusion

As a provincial-level representative inheritor, Guo Zilin has devoted decades to hulusi performance, craftsmanship, and teaching. His innovations, educational initiatives, and dedication have not only preserved Yi traditions but also enhanced their vitality and accessibility, making him a key figure in safeguarding and promoting Yi musical heritage.