Pu Neng - Inheritor of "Yanglaogu Dance" in Lufeng County, Chuxiong

Pu Neng (普能, born 1954), from Nanchong Langjingkou Zhong Village (南冲郎箐口中村), Yaozhan Township (腰站乡), Lufeng County (禄丰县), Chuxiong Prefecture (楚雄州), Yunnan Province (云南省), is the provincial-level representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage project “Jinshan Yanglao Drum Dance” (金山羊老鼓舞).

As the second-generation inheritor in his family, Pu began formal training in Yanglao Drum Dance at age 25 under his father Pu Chaojin (普朝金). By 30, he had mastered all twelve performance sets, becoming the youngest backbone performer and organizer in his community. Under his leadership, Yanglao Drum Dance stepped out of village fields onto official stages, showcasing the unique charm of this 600-year-old tradition.

I. Family Heritage and Early Training

Born into a Yi (彝族) family, Pu grew up immersed in local traditions. His father was a respected Yanglao Drum Dance artist whose strong drumbeats and passionate movements left a deep impression on the young boy.

Pu formally began learning at 25:

“At that time, fewer villagers could dance the Yanglao Drum. My father worried about its disappearance, so he encouraged me to inherit it,” Pu recalls.

Through his father’s careful teaching, Pu mastered core techniques such as he luo (合锣, cymbal coordination), drumming, and yao longtou (要龙头, leading the dragon step). His diligence soon made him a skilled performer. By 30, he had mastered all twelve performance routines, becoming a leading figure in his troupe and reviving the dance’s local vitality.

II. Core Skills and Artistic Style

1. Yanglao Drum Dance System

Pu Neng fully inherited the movement vocabulary, music, and ritual system:

• Dance Skills: Proficient in twelve routines, including Long Baiwei (龙摆尾, Dragon Swinging Tail), Rao Gu (绕鼓, Circling the Drum), and Da Zhuangu (大转鼓, Big Drum Spins). His movements are powerful and passionate, reflecting the bold spirit of the Yi people.

• Music System: Master of drumming rhythms and folk song tunes, improvising for occasions. He knows 25 mountain songs, such as Caicha Diao (采茶调, Tea-Picking Tune), Shi Dajie (十大姐, The Tenth Sister), and Fangyang Diao (放羊调, Shepherd’s Tune).

• Performance Rituals: Follows traditional procedures from start to finish, adapting styles to weddings, funerals, or festivals.

2. Personal Style

• Movement Features: Strong, rhythmic, and explosive—especially his signature Dragon Swinging Tail step, marked by a backward upward kick.

• Performance Style: Balances traditional aesthetics with modern elements, revitalizing the ancient dance.

• Teaching Approach: Uses “dance while explaining,” breaking complex moves into simple steps, encouraging both discipline and creativity.

3. Historical Origins

Pu also interprets the dance’s roots for students:

“Yanglao Drum Dance is a treasure of Lufeng folk culture, blending small folk tunes with huadeng melodies. Its predecessor was the Fengyang Huagu (凤阳花鼓).”

With over 600 years of history, the dance originated in Nanchong villages of Jinshan Town (金山镇). Passed down orally, it integrates song, dance, and music, once serving as festive recreation before evolving into a complete folk art form.

III. Transmission System: Family, School, Society

Pu created a “Family + School + Community” three-dimensional network:

1. Family Transmission:

   • Runs a home-based training studio.

   • His son has started learning, becoming the third-generation inheritor.

2. School Education:

   • Actively brings Yanglao Drum Dance into schools, teaching at Nanchong Hope Primary School (南冲希望小学).

   • Uses after-class sessions to integrate into curricula.

   • His vivid teaching makes the dance popular among students, giving heritage a “youthful spirit.”

3. Community Transmission:

   • Organizes and leads performance teams at local and regional festivals.

   • His troupe has performed at Lufeng Dinosaur Festival, Guangtong Torch Festival, Central Yunnan Song & Dance Festival, and Yunnan Provincial Minority Games, winning awards and recognition.

   • In performances, he explains cultural background to raise awareness of heritage preservation.

IV. Cultural Communication and Innovation

1. National Platform Recognition

• Official Recognition: In 2002, named a provincial-level representative inheritor by the Yunnan Department of Culture and Tourism.

• Stage Performances: Earned wide acclaim for bringing out the cultural depth of Yanglao Drum Dance.

• Media Coverage: Featured in multiple outlets, enhancing visibility.

2. Cultural Tourism Integration

• Festival Empowerment: Organizes performances during Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and Yi traditional festivals.

• Tourism Projects: Designs immersive experiences in scenic areas—instrument-making, dance workshops, and play performances.

• Innovation: Combines traditional moves with modern stagecraft to increase visual appeal.

V. Heritage Protection and Policy Practice

1. Systematic Protection:

   • Digital Archiving: Partnered with Lufeng Cultural Center to record core routines.

   • Academic Research: Collaborated on theoretical studies.

   • Mechanism Building: Formed a “Workshop + Art Troupe + Schools” model.

2. Policy and Social Support:

   • Secured heritage funds for props and disciple stipends. Lufeng government provides annual subsidies (3,000 RMB per inheritor).

   • Founded the Lufeng Yanglao Drum Dance Lecture Troupe (禄丰县羊老鼓舞宣讲团), blending Party policy with folk arts; their Ethnic Unity, One Family (民族团结一家亲) series was awarded by Yunnan Department of Culture.

   • Featured in People’s Daily Overseas Edition, further expanding influence.

VI. Challenges and Breakthroughs

Challenges

• Generational Gap: Long learning cycle, aging inheritors, few young successors.

• Market Limitations: Limited commercial pathways; traditional forms struggle to meet modern aesthetics.

Solutions

• School Engagement: Promotes heritage through school programs, inspiring youth.

• Creative Fusion: Experiments with combining Yanglao Drum Dance with modern music and choreography.

• Digital Communication: Uses short videos and livestreams to reach wider audiences.

VII. Cultural Value and Contemporary Significance

Pu Neng’s work embodies threefold value:

1. Historical Research: Preserves Yi ritual songs and dance forms, serving as living samples for studying Yi social structures and religion in western Yunnan.

2. Ethnic Cohesion: His troupe unites Yi, Han, and other members, honored as a “Yunnan Model Team for Ethnic Unity.”

3. Educational Innovation: His “Traditional Skills + Modern Education” model has been promoted province-wide and included in the Yunnan Primary and Secondary Ethnic Arts Education Guidelines.

As Pu himself says:

“Yanglao Drum Dance is not just body movement—it is the life rhythm engraved in the blood of the Yi people.”

Through balancing tradition and innovation, Pu Neng has brought Yanglao Drum Dance from Lufeng’s valleys onto wider stages, making it a vivid expression of the diversity and unity of Chinese civilization.