Daolang Muqam and Maixirepu Dance

Daolang Muqam and Maixirepu Dance Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Dolang Mukam is mostly distributed in the Dolang region northwest of the Tarim Basin, especially in Markit County. It is said that the original Dolang Mukam contained 12 suites, however, only 9 suites have been collected today, including Baxibayawan Mukam, Zi'erbayawan Mukam, Qu'erbayawan Mukam, etc. Each suite of Dolang Mukam consists of five parts with a length of 6 to 9 minutes. The total length of the nine suites is about one and a half hours.Maixirepu is a Uygur word meaning "joyful entertainment." It is a kind of activity with impromptu music and dances at festivals. The songs and dancing are mainly about hunting, bumper harvest celebrations, and daily life. There are no limits on the time, place, and number of players of doing Maixirepu.

Daolang Mukam

What Is It

Dolang Mukam is mostly distributed in the Dolang region northwest of the Tarim Basin, especially in Markit County. It is said that the original Dolang Mukam contained 12 suites, however, only 9 suites have been collected today, including Baxibayawan Mukam, Zi'erbayawan Mukam, Qu'erbayawan Mukam, etc. Each suite of Dolang Mukam consists of five parts with a length of 6 to 9 minutes. The total length of the nine suites is about one and a half hours. The librettos of Dolang Mukam are all based on the popular Uygur ballads in Dolang region, which fully express all feelings of the people with its rich content, loud and sonorous melody and sincere emotions.

Origin

The dancing content of Daolang Muqam is the whole process of Daolang Peoples hunting lives: in overture part, dancers lift their arms high, as if they are lifting the torch to light the wilderness for seeking wild animals; in main part, dancers perform as if language of hunting the wild animals; in the end, dancing team forms a square array and dancers whirl cheerfully to show a scene of great joy after hunting successfully.

About Daolang Area

Daolang is a branch Chinese Uygur Nationality, Daolang People live around Takelamagan Great Desert which is called "Sea for Death" in Sinkiang. In the old time, its cut off from the outside world, and production lagged behind, so hunting life played an important role. Production and life of Daolang ancients fighting against nature and wild animals artistically dissolved into Daolang Muqam and that is the cultural heritage of human hunting society.

Daolang area has transformed to Pasturage Society, Farming Society as well as Business Society, and now it is striding into information Society. Traditional culture suffers all kind impact because of changes of society. During the period of "the Culture Great Revolution" extreme thoughts deluged, so they animadverted on Daolang Muqam to wild, lagged, lavatorial art, so Daolang mass dance performed instead; recent years, some people regarded that Daolang Muqam music was ragged and rapid disharmonious using the standard of western classic music and Chinese traditional music, so parts of Muqam music have changed into monosound music from multisound. These changes make the art of Daolang Muqam in the shade.

During the long process of social development in the Daolang areas, various scenes and stories of daily life have been enriching the contents of Maixirepu, forming the unique Daolang culture. Daolang Maixirepu, a most unique form of Maixirepu art in Uygur, is popular mainly in areas from the Ye'erqiang River to the Tarim River, northwest of the Tarim Basin, with Maigaiti County at the center.

Feature

The distinguishing feature of Daolang Muqam Music is that all sorts of instruments play heartily, and all sorts of singers sing loudly and without constraint, meanwhile they dont follow each other in melody. But in a whole, the mainstay of the melody mainly shows no difference. They are harmonious and unified forming multisound music which is full of artistic appeal. In hunting society, this straight forward, uninhibited and wild artistic character which specific character cuts a figure and general character is unified is the vivid reflection that people fight by oneself and colony fight for survival of the tribe.

Maixirepu

Origin

Maigaiti County, a typical place where Uygurs gather, is located in the southwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. About 89 per cent of the people in Maigaiti County belong to the Daolang Uygur group, who are good at singing and dancing and are famed for their Maixirepu performances.

Meaning

Maixirepu is a Uygur word meaning "joyful entertainment." It is a kind of activity with impromptu music and dances at festivals. The songs and dancing are mainly about hunting, bumper harvest celebrations, and daily life. There are no limits on the time, place, and number of players of doing Maixirepu.

As the story goes, the centuries-old Maixirepu evolved from the "banquet musical dances" of the Western Regions and was greatly influenced by Islamic culture. It is also believed that the Maixirepu originated from the impromptu singing and dancing when the Uygur ancestors were engaged in fishing, hunting and farming in ancient times.

Catetories

Generally, Daolang Maixirepu is divided into four categories according to its functions: rituals of festivals and celebrations as well as life rituals, farming and animal husbandry, social activities, and other folk custom activities.

The activity is presided over by an elder, interluded with poem composition, riddles and jokes. When the music begins, people invite each other to dance. The host often provides food. Young people perform the "goat dance" or the "goose dance" to liven up the atmosphere.

• In the "goat dance", the young performers use simple goat-like stage props. The performers act like goats and arrive quietly behind the audience. Then they jump onto the dancing field, pretend to eat grass, drink water, rub horns and gore people, which always draw laughter from the crowd.

• In the "goose dance", performers wear their leather clothing inside out, put their right hands into their sleeves and wrap them with red cloth. Like a goose, they walk falteringly onto the dancing field. The audience then sings commending or derogatory songs. When the goose is praised, he dances happily; when he is degraded, he pecks the singer. The dance is funny and lively. During the activity, the young people learn about the folk customs, rituals and dances.

Daolang Maixirepu still preserves the primitive flavor of the Tarim aboriginal song and dance performances, and is a valuable encyclopedia valuable for the research of the history, social life and folk customs of the Daolang Uygurs.

Daolang Muqam and Maixirepu Dance Highlights

Daolang Muqam and Maixirepu Dance Highlights Related

Twelve Muqam attraction highlights

Known as the 'mother of Uygur music', the Twelve Muqam has a long history. Cheerful singing and music will always bring you a good mood. So listening to some Twelve Muqam music is a must when you visit Xinjiang.

• Kashgar
• Kuqa
• Yarkent

Uygur Ethnic Group attraction highlights

Xinjiang province, a place of large desert, tasty fruit and friendly people, is where almost all the Uygurs are found. It occupies much of the sparsely-populated Northwest.

• Urumqi
• Turpan
• Kashgar
• Korla
• Kuqa
• Burqin
• Yarkent
• Hotan
• Fuyun

Daolang Muqam and Maixirepu Dance FAQ & Travelers's Tips

1. What are some original forms of art that are unique to China?
2. China has its own operas? What are they?
3. Why are there so many Dragons on Chinese arts?
4. What's the popular arts among Chinese people?
5. Where are the best places to go to experience authentic Chinese art?
6. What's Chinese art usually about?
7. Why so much make-up on Chinese performers' faces?
8. What is the best form that can express Chinese arts?
9. What should I notice when I go to appreciate Chinese arts?
10. Where can I buy souvenirs about Chinese arts?

1. What are some original forms of art that are unique to China?

   China is a country with a long long history. During its development, all kinds of arts were created by the diligent Chinese people. Although nowadays, there are other countries that try to imitate Chinese art, the roots are still in China, and the best Chinese art works in the world can only be found in China.

   • Papercut Technique and form of cutting and pricking pictures and designs in paper by hand. The tools employed in papercutting were simply a pair of sharp scissors, razor-edged, quill-shaped knives or penknives with a hone and oil for sharpening, and good-quality paper. For pin-pricking, steel needles of different sizes were fixed to short wooden handles or mounted on a roulette wheel. The paper was worked from the back as well as the front for various effects. Handcut and pricked papers were largely outmoded by machine production in the mid-19th century.

   • Chinese Opera Chinese Opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China. There are numerous regional branches of opera with its original root starting in the dynastic periods. The Beijing opera is one of the most famous Chinese Opera. As early as the Three Kingdoms period, Canjun opera was one of the first form of opera available. Though in general, the more organized form of Chinese opera began in the Tang Dynasty with Emperor Xuanzong (712C755), who founded the "Pear Garden", the first known opera troupe in China. The troupe mostly performed for the emperors' personal pleasure. To this day operatic professionals are still referred to as "Disciples of the Pear Garden". In the Yuan Dynasty (1279C1368), forms like the Zaju, which acts based on rhyming schemes plus the innovation of having specialized roles like "Dan", "Sheng", "Hua" and "Chou" were introduced into the opera. Although actors in theatrical performances of the Song Dynasty (960C1279) strictly adhered to speaking in Classical Chinese onstage, it was during the Yuan Dynasty that actors speaking in the vernacular tongue gained precedent on stage.

     The dominant form of the Ming and early Qing dynasties was Kunqu, which came from the Wu cultural area. It later evolved into a longer form of play called chuanqi, which became one of the 5 melody that made up Sichuan opera. Chinese operas continue to exist in 368 different forms now, the best known of which is Beijing opera, which assumed its present form in the mid-19th century and was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644C1911).

   • Chinese Painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Earliest paintings were ornamental, not representational; they consisted of pattern or designs, not pictures. Stone Age pottery was painted with spiral, zigzags, dots, or animals. It was only during the Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.) that artists began to represent the world around them.

     Painting in the traditional style is today known in Chinese as guo hua meaning 'national' or 'native painting', in opposition to Western styles of art which became popular in China in the 20th century. Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made of paper and silk. The finished work is then mounted on scrolls, which can be hung or rolled up. Traditional painting also is done in albums and on walls, lacquerwork, and other media.

     Chinese Variety Art It is the name giving to the collection of performances that include a wide range of acrobatic, balancing acts and other spectacles performed by a troupe fashioned in traditional Chinese-style attire. The art originated in China and is still performed today.




2. China has its own operas? What are they?

   There are about 30 kinds of Chinese operas: 4 in the North, 13 in the South and another 13 that belongs to other areas here and there. The most famous operas in China are Beijing opera, Qinqiang opera, Kunqu opera, Pingju opera, etc.




3. Why are there so many Dragons on Chinese arts?

   Dragons are commonly symbols of good luck/health in some parts of Asia, and are also sometimes worshipped. Asian dragons are considered as mythical rulers of weather, specifically rain and water, and are usually depicted as the guardians of flaming pearls.

   In China, as well as in Japan and Korea, the Azure Dragon is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellation, representing spring (season), the element of Wood and the east. A Yellow dragon with five claws on each foot, on the other hand, symbolize imperial authority in China, and indirectly the Chinese people as well. Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity.




4. What's the popular arts among Chinese people?

   Due to the long history, some Chinese arts were descended yet some didn't get the chance to live long. Ancient Chinese arts that are still popular today, we'd say, it's the papercut and Chinese opera.

   Papercut is playing an important part in festivals, especially the Spring festival. People use papercuts as decorations in the room in order to add more festival atmosphere to the house. Papercut is also collected by many Chinese pepercut lovers who would spend a good among of money on those papercuts. The patterns that are usually used in papercut are now used in many place: patterns on appliance, patterns on buildings, etc.

   During Spring festival, there is always an evening show that's only about Chinese opera, indicating the importance of Chinese opera today. There are schools that teach kid to learn how to perform Chinese opera, and some people live their live on performing Chinese operas.




5. Where are the best places to go to experience authentic Chinese art?

   Chinese art actually has been soaked into people's common lives. All kinds of forms of art can be seen along the streets, on the bus, in the subway, anytime, anywhere. But there are indeed some best places for you to appreciate the best Chinese art.

   • The Gallery of China The Gallery of China started in the 1970's it wasn't until 1996 that the gallery proper was formed. It's located in the city center area. It has many functions such as exhibition, collection, research, public education and international communication. From time to time, interesting art exhibition takes place in the Gallery of China. Just a few months ago, the Dunhuang art show was held inside the gallery. Thousands of visitors came to see the exhibition. All kinds of Dunhuang wall paintings brought visitors to the real Dunhuang
   
   
   • National Theater for the Performing Arts The National Centre for the Performing Arts is a dynamic new icon to the arts in the heart of old Beijing. The Centre's ultra-modern architecture is in sharp contrast to its neighbours, the Great Hall of the People, Tian'anmen Square and the ancient Forbidden City.The National Centre for the Performing Arts is far more than a spectacular and futuristic building.




6. What's Chinese art usually about?

   Chinese arts usually all have auspicious meanings. Take papercut for example, papercuts usually are vivid pictures of Chinese phrases with good and optimistic meaning. That's why people like to put up papercuts on the windows or walls to bring auspicious atmosphere to the house.

   Chinese arts are usually about common people's life. A very precious piece of art might be just about an old man in the street where nobody known about him, or about a general life style that everyone shares.




7. Why so much make-up on Chinese performers' faces?

   As you have noticed, there is much make up on performers' faces when they are performing Chinese operas. Why? That's because the themes of the shows they play are usually about ancient Chinese stories. And different colors of make-up symbolize different historical characters. For example, Caocao, one of the central figures during the Three Kingdoms Period, was a cunning character, so the role of him needs white facial make-up to express the duplicity of him. Guanyu, was a general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. He was a nice person and made a lot of contribution to him country, therefore, the role of Guanyu needs the color red to show his courage, strength and loyalty.




8. What is the best form that can express Chinese arts?

   All kinds of forms express Chinese arts well. Yet, there is a unique form of Chinese arts that no other country has, which is Chinese Calligraphy. For thousands of years of development, Chinese calligraphy has now many forms. Some look decent with delicate handwriting, while some look messy but express the open character of the writers. Brush pen, the unique tool for Chinese traditional writings, also has various kinds. Some are thin while some are thick, which show different styles of calligraphy.




9. What should I notice when I go to appreciate Chinese arts?

   If you go to a gallery, please do not take photos of the art works. Flash lights is very bad for the preservation of the works. Sometimes, drinks are not allowed inside a gallery, so please make sure you have enough liquid in you before entering the gallery.

   If you go to see a show, please keep quiet during the show. Do not applaud until the end of performances. There are also some special requirements: for instance, if you want to see the Tang dynasty dance and music show, we suggest that you dress as you would for any formal occasion, like the Opera in Beijing, and the welcome and farewell dinners during the Yangtze Cruise. Jackets and ties for gentlemen and a formal dress or gown for ladies are recommended.




10. Where can I buy souvenirs about Chinese arts?

    If you want to buy some souvenirs for you friends, please tell your guides, they will do their best to fulfill your requirements. Your guides will introduce you some large painting shops with the high quality. You can have a pleasant and rewarding shopping experience.

    Also, there are usually souvenirs inside the gallery of theater where you can buy gifts for friends and family, but the price might be a little bit high.