He Guangqing - Representative Inheritor of Yi Epic Poem "King Alujuri" Project in Yuanmou County, Chuxiong 

He Guangqing (born 1949) from Maidiping Village (麦地坪村), Bashi Village Committee (把世村委会), Liangshan Township (凉山乡), Yuanmou County (元谋县), Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (楚雄彝族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省), is the provincial-level representative inheritor of the Yi epic Alu Jure (阿鲁举热).

His artistic career spans the crucial period when this Central Yunnan epic evolved from endangered oral tradition to systematic protection. As a contemporary heir of a Xiao Liangshan (小凉山) Yi Bahaayi (巴哈阿依, Yi “epic singer”) family, he has dedicated over 70 years to preserving and innovating the art, earning the title “Keeper of the Epic Flame of Xiao Liangshan” (小凉山的史诗火种守护者).

Family Heritage and Early Training

Born into a family of Yi epic singers, He Guangqing was immersed from childhood in the creation myths of Alu Jure.

• By age 12: He could perform the entire epic from memory.

• By 17: He independently led epic recitations during major Yi festivals such as the Torch Festival (火把节) and the Ten-Month Year Festival (十月年).

• By 20: Recognized for his rich voice and exceptional memory, he became the youngest local performer capable of improvising major episodes like Shooting the Sun (射日) and Slaying Demons (斩妖), while mastering ritual procedures such as Dragon Worship (祭龙) and Sending Ancestors’ Souls (送祖灵).

His performances blend the solemnity of bimo (毕摩, Yi priests) chanting with the spontaneity of mountain folk songs, creating a dramatic, improvisational style. He excels in vibrato techniques and descending pentatonic patterns, conveying profound epic emotion.

In 1985, he won second prize at the Yunnan Provincial Folk Song and Dance Festival (云南省民族民间歌舞展演), marking the start of his professional career.

Core Skills and Cultural Protection

A Living Standard of Epic Transmission

He Guangqing preserved the authentic narrative and ritual system of Alu Jure:

• Textual Authenticity: He retained 12 core chapters such as Creation of Heaven and Earth (开天辟地) and The Great Flood (洪水创世). His unique throat-singing accompaniment and triple-meter rhythm were recognized in The Anthology of Chinese Folk Songs: Yunnan Volume (中国民间歌曲集成・云南卷) as a model of Yi epic performance.

• Ritual Integrity: He strictly follows the nine-step ritual—Inviting Spirits, Purification, Antiphonal Singing, Sending Spirits (请神—净身—对歌—送神). His ceremonies in the Yi Worship Heaven and Earth (祭天地) rituals are considered “living examples of Central Yunnan minority religious practices” by Yunnan Minzu University (云南民族大学).

Rescuing an Endangered Tradition

At a time when fewer than 10 elders could still perform Alu Jure, He Guangqing led a systematic revival:

• Field Research: He visited 15 Yi villages in Yuanmou County (元谋县) and surrounding areas, collecting endangered melodies such as The Flood Overwhelms the World (洪水滔天) and recording 60 hours of original audio.

• Fireside Teaching: He founded the “Epic Night School,” teaching over 30 disciples using oral instruction and physical memory. Thanks to this, Maidiping Village (麦地坪村) now has over 100 villagers able to perform the epic, up from fewer than 5.

Building a Transmission Network

He Guangqing created a three-level inheritance system:

• Family Transmission: His son, trained from childhood, can independently perform core rituals like Honoring the Song God (祭歌神), continuing the fifth generation of performers.

• Ritual Practice: Through annual large-scale events such as the Yi Angmatu Festival (昂玛突节), he trains 12 singers and 4 assistants, forming a stable performing troupe.

• Community Teaching: He established the “He Guangqing Epic Training Center” (何光清史诗传习所) in Maidiping Village, employing a “fireside teaching” model. His chief disciple, Xiao Yuhua (肖玉华), can independently perform core segments like Songs of Joy (群歌欢腾) and collaborate on innovative “epic + dance” performances, blending sword movements with heroic melodies—a unique style in Xiao Liangshan (小凉山).

Cultural Communication and Innovation

National Cultural Ambassador

• Recognition: In 2010, he was named a Provincial-Level Representative Inheritor of Intangible Cultural Heritage. His performances were featured on CCTV’s Homeland China (乡土中国), and teaching videos on Douyin (抖音) reached over one million views.

• Awards: In 2019, he led his troupe to win the Bronze “Caiyun Award” (彩云奖) for Epic of Wumeng (乌蒙史诗), and received the “Best Performance Award” individually.

• Academic Dialogue: In 2025, he collaborated with China University of Petroleum (Beijing) (中国石油大学北京), combining textual research, dialogue with inheritors, and field study to promote interdisciplinary research, integrating Alu Jure into university heritage curricula.

Tourism and Festival Innovation

• Epic Festival: During the Yi Torch Festival (火把节), he organizes the Alu Jure Cultural Festival, featuring cross-cultural performances such as Yi-Han Harmony (彝汉同辉), attracting over 300,000 online viewers.

• Immersive Tourism: At Yuanmou Earth Forest Scenic Area (元谋土林景区), he helped design an “Epic Immersive Experience Center,” where visitors can try Yi costumes, engage in antiphonal singing, and participate in basic performances—welcoming over 10,000 visitors annually, boosting local incomes by 800 RMB per person.

Heritage Protection and Policy Practice

Systematic Preservation

• Digital Archives: In collaboration with Yunnan Minzu University (云南民族大学), he used 3D scanning to record 20 ritual movements and developed a VR teaching system available on the “Xuexi Qiangguo” (学习强国) platform.

• Re-staging Classics: He revived endangered plays such as The White Elephant Saves the Hero (白象救主) and The Deer’s Gratitude (马鹿报恩), enhancing them with modern stage lighting and design.

Policy and Community Support

• Funding: Secured provincial heritage funds for the Training Center and equipment, providing disciples with monthly stipends.

• Community Initiatives: Founded the Alu Jure Lecture Troupe, integrating heritage performance with policy storytelling; their documentary Ethnic Unity, One Family (民族团结一家亲) received recognition from the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture.

Challenges and New Solutions

Despite his achievements, He Guangqing faces:

• Generational Gap: Epic training takes 10–15 years, most disciples are over 40, with only three under 30.

• Market Limitations: Ritual performances attract limited audiences, and cultural products offer low profit margins.

Innovative Approaches

• Digital Empowerment: Partnered with Huawei’s “Digital Intangible Heritage” project to launch a VR teaching system, reaching over 1.5 million views.

• Cross-Genre Fusion: Released the album New Rhythms of the Epic (史诗新韵); the single Fireside Tales (火塘夜话) exceeded 3 million Douyin (抖音) views.

• Youth Engagement: Weekend classes at Yuanmou Youth Activity Center (元谋县青少年活动中心) attracted over 120 children through games and role-play.

Cultural Value and Contemporary Significance

He Guangqing’s contributions hold threefold significance:

• Historical Research: Preserved Yi melodies and rituals provide living examples for studying Central Yunnan’s social and religious structures.

• Ethnic Cohesion: In multi-ethnic Yuanmou County (元谋县), Alu Jure fosters unity. His troupe includes Yi, Han, and Miao performers, recognized as a “Model Team for Ethnic Unity in Yunnan” (云南省民族团结进步示范团队).

• Educational Innovation: His “Traditional Skills + Modern Education” approach was cited by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism as a model case and promoted across 16 prefectures.

As He Guangqing says:

“Alu Jure is not just chanting—it is the living cultural DNA of the Yi people.”

Through his dedication and innovation, he has brought the Yi creation epic from mountain villages to international stages, enriching the diverse mosaic of Chinese civilization.