China's Three Great Epics Entering the Southwest Region Event kicked off in Kunming

China News Service, Kunming, September 16 (Lu Xicheng) On the 15th, China's three major epics "Manas", "Gesar (S)er" and "Jianggar" were performed on the same stage at the Golden School in Panlong District, Kunming. The distinctive voice and ups and downs of the epic narrative attracted applause from teachers and students in the audience. The event of "the common homeland of the people's long poems" - China's "three major epics" in the southwest region kicked off.

The event was hosted by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The above three epics were included in China's first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists in 2006. The performance that day was also interspersed with Xinjiang folk songs such as "Autumn Leaves in August", allowing teachers and students in Yunnan to follow the sounds and get closer to Xinjiang.

On September 15, the "People's Long Poetry Common Homeland" - China's "Three Epics" entered the southwest region event kicked off at the Golden School in Panlong District, Kunming City. Photo by Yan Dujiukun

The chanting of "Manas" begins first, and the tone is slow and urgent, rising and falling as the story progresses; Tobshor then plucks, and the rich and long singing of "Gesar (S)er" unfolds with the strings; then turns to "Janggar", the plucking becomes denser, and the singing becomes more exciting. For more than an hour, three ancient epics were played in different voices one after another, and the audience applauded continuously.

Dorji Turgul, the performer of "Gesar(S)er", has been associated with the national epic since junior high school. In recent years, as the national intangible cultural heritage protection and inheritance work continues to advance, he has reorganized what he has learned and used club activities and weekend time to teach more than ten students to learn national epic singing and Tobshor.

‘The applause from the audience was very warm. After the performance, students gathered around and asked about the history and customs of various places in Xinjiang. I am truly proud and happy. ’ He said that he hopes to continue to spread the national epic in the future and let more people understand that ‘Xinjiang is a good place’ through music.

Huang Lingfei, an ethnomusicology expert at the Yunnan University of the Arts, said that the three national epics performed this time are unrestrained and open-minded; the Yunnan national epics, such as "Ashima" by the Sani people of the Yi ethnic group, have soothing and delicate narratives, almost narrating. ‘Although the epics of various ethnic groups have different voices, they all praise hard work, bravery and wisdom, and express their yearning for a better life. ’

Albudon, vice chairman of the Xinjiang Folk Writers and Artists Association, said that the three epics have different characters and plots, but they all take home as the core of the narrative. They all sing about protecting homeland, protecting the people, and yearning for a peaceful life. For thousands of years, they have been continuously inherited and enriched through the exchanges and blending of various ethnic groups, and they are the common crystallization of wisdom of the Chinese nation. ’

From September 16th to 17th, the performance team will also visit many universities and public cultural spaces in Kunming to continue performances and exchanges, and will travel to Chengdu, Sichuan Province on the 18th. (over)