With a history spanning millennia, Laizi Luogu troupes are scattered across Liangping District, Chongqing. In times of celebration or farewell, they become a way for villagers to express their hopes and emotions.

Laoying Village, a small settlement nestled in the mountains of Liangping District, Chongqing, is home to villagers who have long lived among the hills and forests and collectively safeguard this unique cultural heritage.

Liangping Laizi Luogu originated as a way to convey joy and encouragement. It is not only a unique way for rural people to express their blessings and enthusiasm for life, but also an important part of folk gatherings and artistic activities. Whether at festive celebrations, business openings, birthday ceremonies, weddings, or funerals, Liangping Laizi Luogu, with its cultural charm, adds a distinctive cultural element to these occasions.

He Zhican, an inheritor of Liangping Laizi Luogu in Laoying Village, performs the traditional percussion art as part of his efforts to preserve and pass it on.

During a performance, Liangping Laizi Luogu presents an impressive spectacle, from the complete introductory sequence known as the "Eighteen Laizi," to the ensemble playing of various instruments like the Ergu (small drum), Maluo (horse bell), Bo (cymbals), Daluo (large gong), Gouguo (small gong), and Chazi (another type of cymbal), and finally to the superb playing skills that integrate "heart, mouth, and hands." The instruments' harmonious resonance complements the stage arrangement and the performers' postures and gestures.

Performers of Laizi Luogu are predominantly male; even the more abstract roles described as the "soul of the melody" or the "heart of the rhythm" are mostly performed by men. The musicians are typically laborers in daily life, yet once they pick up their instruments, they cross the boundaries between refined and folk traditions, conveying the simple emotions and cultural heritage of their homeland.

He Zhican, the inheritor of Laizi Luogu in Laoying Village, holds a deep affection for this art. He says, "For me, Laizi Luogu isn't about fame or fortune; it's about preserving the spirit of our local culture and passing down the traditional arts of our ancestors."

Performing Laizi Luogu is an expression of deep devotion to the tradition.

However, as time passes, this folk art, passed down for over a century, now faces growing challenges in being passed on to future generations.

The once thunderous sounds of gongs and drums have gradually faded; the troupes that once thrived across the countryside are now dwindling. Opportunities for stage performances are also becoming rare, posing another challenge to the development of Liangping Laizi Luogu.

Furthermore, Liangping Laizi Luogu is a physically demanding art form. Performances can last for hours, requiring musicians to strike their instruments continuously, which places great demands on their physical strength and endurance.

Faced with the pressures of life, many young villagers choose to leave their hometown and seek work in the hustle and bustle of cities. Consequently, fewer young people are willing to learn and carry on this tradition, which offers limited financial reward and requires considerable effort.

In response, new approaches are needed to help Liangping Laizi Luogu adapt and develop. How this traditional art can find new vitality in modern society has become a pressing issue.

Nevertheless, the rhythmic beats of Liangping Laizi Luogu will continue to echo, awaiting a new chapter to be written.

Chinese script: Tan Jiajia

 Tutored by: Yang Huanlan

Translation: Yan Yu

Tutored by: Zhang Yidan, Gu Tiantian