China News Service, Dehong, Yunnan, October 2, Title: "Munao Zongge" regular performance, intangible cultural heritage innovation boosts cultural tourism economy
China News Service reporter Miao Chao
As the "Munao Zongge March" with its solemn and majestic melody and sonorous rhythm sounded, thousands of people stepped on the same drum beat, stepped forward, waved their shoulders, and the silver bubbles shone, and the cheers of "Oh Ran" echoed across the China-Myanmar border.
During this year’s National Day holiday, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, located in the southwest border of China and bordering Myanmar, arranged more than 20 Munao singing activities, attracting tourists from all over the world.
On October 2, the Munao Zong Song event was held in Longchuan County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Photo by China News Service reporter Miao Chao
"If you missed the first month in the past, you would have to wait another year." Dong Jianbin, head of the Jingpo National Culture Working Group in Dehong Prefecture, told a reporter from China News Service. This year, Munao Zongge has become a regular event from an annual festival.
"Munaozongge" means "let's all dance together" and is the most solemn traditional festival of the Jingpo people. In 2006, it was included in the first batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list.
Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, grand Munao Songs are organized in many places in Dehong Prefecture. The Jingpo people, the Dai people, Achang people and other fraternal ethnic groups who live here together, as well as tourists from all over the world, gather together to sing and dance to their heart's content.
"The flames on the fire pit are red, and the smoke marks are layer upon layer on the beams..." At the beginning of this year, a Beijing musician wrote lyrics based on "Munao Zongge March" and used AI to adapt it into "Munao Zongge", which became "hot" on the Internet at home and abroad. The fire of music soon ignited the dance. A group of young actors from the Yunnan Provincial Song and Dance Theater incorporated the turning, circling and other movements of the traditional Jingpo knife skills into the dance, and also "out of the circle".
As of September this year, Munao Zongge’s topic views on the entire network exceeded 10 billion times. "The explosion online has added fuel to the normalization of offline singing." Dong Jianbin said that the Munao Zong Singing Troupe has spread throughout every village in Dehong Prefecture, with more than 30 troupes of a certain scale. “People of all ethnic groups and tourists sing, dance and gather together every day.”
In Ruili City, Dehong Prefecture, the Nongmo Lake United Zongge Troupe has grown to more than 200 people. It performs in the "One Village, Two Countries" scenic spot during the day, and leads citizens and tourists to dance in the urban square at night. In Mangshi, starting from August this year, Munao Zongge has performed regularly every evening, with multiple folk art troupes taking turns to perform.
Tang Deguang, head of the Nongmo Lake Unity Song Troupe, said, "When the drums sound, citizens and tourists can walk into the dance troupe at any time and immerse themselves in the national culture."
"Everyday Munao Zongge is conducive to the inheritance of this representative project of national intangible cultural heritage." Dong Jianbin said that more "Naoshuang" and "Nauba" (lead dancers of Munao Zongge) are being cultivated in various places in Dehong Prefecture.
On October 2, tourists purchased Jingpo handicrafts in Longchuan County, Dehong Prefecture. Photo by China News Service reporter Miao Chao
From a once-a-year festival to a daily event, Munao Zongge has boosted the cultural tourism economy of Dehong Prefecture.
So far this year, the sales of Jingpo clothing, brocade and other products in Dehong Prefecture have increased by 280% year-on-year, and air transportation, accommodation, and catering have increased by 54.3%, 19.5%, and 7% respectively.
