Tujia, as a multicultural nationality, boasts a brilliant regional culture and characteristic national customs, such as original architecture, unique customs, quaint song and dance, exquisite craft, unique beliefs, distinctive language, and music performances integrating multiple national and cultural elements.
unique customs in Qianjiang county
Luogu (literally gongs and drums) is a Chinese folk percussion ensemble, comprising several types of drums, gongs, and cymbals. In the Tujia region, Luogu is commonly performed during grand festivals, weddings, and funerals to heighten the feelings of happiness and sorrow.
Xie Yuqi, the 23rd generation of a successor to Qianjiang “Xie’s Luogu,” introduced that, in the past, Xie’s ancestors entered Sichuan from Jiangxi and migrated to a place in modern Apengjiang town, Qianjiang District, Chongqing. They made a living by fishing in the Apeng River for generations. At that time, there were often wild animals on both sides of the river, so Xie’s ancestors used iron tools to drive away wild animals at night. Since iron tools could not make much noise, they made a loud brass gong that echoed to keep wild animals off.
Later, in order to kill time at night, Xie’s ancestors gathered together and decided to use the skin of dead farm cattle to make cattle hide drum, and use the brass to make some auxiliary instruments. The Luogu played by four or five people came into being. Since people were illiterate at that time, they used unique and straightforward symbols as the intro of luogu to make rhythmic sounds and made it easy to learn and remember. This is the so-called Luogu Yinzi, which has been passed down through generations.
Xie’s Luogu team
Xie’s Luogu is a family inheritance, so in principle, it cannot be made public. But Xie Yuqi believes that any folk art is a part of Chinese culture, the conservative inheritance pattern cannot adapt to the new era and will eventually make Luogu a lost art. So he introduced it enthusiastically to the audiences who showed interest, and taught it to younger generations who were willing to learn, regardless of their family name and gender. He also taught the Xie’s Luogu to his disciples such as Fan Zuofu.
Xie’s Luogu was widely known, and there were nearly 100 kinds of Luogu Scores comprised of similar symbols in the past. Now the scores of Xie’s Luogu no longer adopt “symbols,” they have been translated into Chinese characters. In June 2016, Xie’s Luogu was listed among the fifth batch of Chongqing Intangible Cultural Heritage.