What are the mysterious and ancient legends in Gansu, China? Or a story?

The remains of sheepskin drum ritual dance in Qin 'an, Gansu Province are inextricably linked with Chinese culture, and a history of Chinese civilization has almost passed through the rumble of drums. As one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, the northwest people living here not only show preference for the use of drums, but also show unique spirituality for the creation and encouragement of drums. From the plateau to the mountainous area, from the loess high slope to the Gobi oasis, as long as there is smoke rising, there will be drums, and as long as there is drums, there will be figures dancing with the festival.

Among many encouragements, sheepskin encouragements circulating in Longnan, Tianshui, Gansu and Dingxi are unique. Sheepskin drum, as its name implies, is a drum made of sheepskin mask, which belongs to one-sided drum with grip. Because of its flat shape, round shape, fan shape, peach shape and so on, there are different names such as fan drum and drum. Every kind of drum is related to an ancient legend, and every kind of encouragement shows the character and aesthetic characteristics of a local resident. Every January, after the Dragon Boat Festival and the bumper harvest in summer and autumn, people here should board an omnipotent rumbling drum with open arms and hold sheepskin drums to express their good wishes.

There are many folk oral legends and many researchers' own speculations about the origin of sheepskin encouragement, and only some sporadic, vague and vague judgments can be obtained from today's status quo. There are not enough historical materials to connect these seemingly familiar phenomena smoothly in the long river of human memory. But what is clear is that sheepskin inspiration has accumulated a long history, bearing the traditions and culture of people living here. With the passage of time, Tianshui sheepskin drum developed along different tracks under the influence of local folk customs and folk arts. At present, the original heritage of sheepskin drum is the inspiration of sheepskin drum in Ganhu Township, Qin 'an County.

First, the basic overview of Qin 'an sheepskin drum sacrificial activities.

Qin 'an, called Ji Cheng in ancient times, is the birthplace of Dadiwan culture and a famous primitive Jiageng tribe site in the early Neolithic period in China. The city is located in Ang Town, Xingguo County, 309 kilometers away from Lanzhou, the financial center of the provincial capital. Legend has it that Fuxi, who began to draw gossip and teach people to fish, and Nu Wa, who made up the soil by refining stones, once lived here, so it is also called Xili Woxiang. Wangzui Village, Ganhu Township is located in the west of Yan Cheng, Qin 'an17km. There are more than 500 people in the village * * *, and the surname is mainly Wang Zhoucheng. The middle and late August of the lunar calendar is a leisure time for thousands of families. At this time, every household is thinking about the annual vivid expression. Qin 'an sheepskin drum dance is a stylized folk sacrifice dance in the name of vividness, with the main contents of praising Fuxi, praying for blessings and thanking God. The "lively" activity lasted for three days. From the 17th to 19th day of the eighth lunar month, this kind of spontaneous folk sacrifice activity touches everyone's heart. Men, women and children are willing to contribute, and the funds raised by each household will be used to buy materials for making sacrifices. During the meeting, we will also give small offerings made from the above foods, as well as various fruits and grains harvested that year. At that time, the current president will be elected, and the president will discuss with the elders who have mastered the activities and specific details. The venue for this year's lively activities will move every year, so every family will have the opportunity to host this activity. During the activity, individuals can eat at home or collectively at the meeting. Small commodities and vegetables produced by farmers are also allowed to be sold during the meeting. People who work or go to school outside will try their best to get back to this activity as long as time permits.

Here, people take farming as the main mode of production to maintain their own survival and continuity. The unique culture gave birth to the unique inspiration of Qin 'an sheepskin, which was deeply rooted in this ancient land. From the basic dynamics of dance to the props of dance. The lyrics and costumes all reflect the unique cultural connotation and lifestyle here.

(1) The significance of the sacrificial activities of sheepskin drums in three different periods.

Qin 'an sheepskin drum has been handed down from generation to generation since the formation of the Ming Dynasty. The so-called telepathy can be understood in many ways, which can be understood as calling the gods to convey their will to the world on behalf of the gods, or as conveying good wishes to the gods on behalf of the people. With thousands of households in Qin 'an county as the leader, the sports activities inspired by sheepskin in each village are slightly staggered, but three activities a year are certain, and the ceremony and significance of each activity are different. These three times are the end of the lunar calendar and the off-season of the lunar calendar in August.

1, the 16th day of the first month It is said that from the 10th to 16th day of the first month, people danced with sheepskin to commemorate Fuxi's great achievements in inventing wood to make fire. The invention of fire ended the era of eating animals and blood, which will greatly promote the process of human civilization. In order to celebrate Fuxi's merits, people jumped on sheepskin on the 16th day of the first lunar month (it is said that this day is Fuxi's birthday) to celebrate and commemorate his great contribution. With the changes of the times, today, the sheepskin drum danced by thousands of families in the first month has evolved into a social fire activity.

Dragon Boat Festival is the time to go to the village. There will be a fragment performance of sheepskin encouragement, or a fragment performance of sheepskin encouragement ceremony according to the needs of villages. At this time, the sheepskin drum performance has a strong witchcraft color of praying for the gods to drive away disasters and take refuge. Hail and drought are the main natural disasters in Qin 'an in history. Every year before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, the villagers hope that through the dancing of sheepskin drums, Raytheon will not have a series of unimaginable consequences such as sudden lightning, landslides and fires caused by storms, resulting in human and animal deaths. I also hope that the rendering of drums can produce a huge explosion and disperse the dark clouds that may diffuse in the sky at any time, because the bad weather at this time may destroy the food crops that have worked hard for a year.

3. From August 17th to 19th of the lunar calendar, the ceremony of encouraging sheep's skin is the most grand one for thousands of families in a year, which concentrates all the wishes of villagers to pray for God's decline, thank God and be grateful. At this time, the villagers in the village, old and young, will get together with great piety.

(B) sheepskin drum ritual activities of the basic procedures

The three-day sacrificial activities from August 17th to 19th of the lunar calendar include the following 16 procedures. Although the whole activity is complicated, it is closely linked and orderly, with songs and dances.

In Xishen unit, every villager tries his best to make God happy. When God gets spiritual pleasure, people will naturally be happy. Therefore, this is an interesting paragraph, and it is also an interesting paragraph for people and gods. Steady dancing and deafening drums create a solemn atmosphere, and acrobatic skills show extraordinary personal courage and skills. The drummers' pious "Song of God" really sang the wise men on earth. In the process of entertaining God, man and God are entertaining together, and heaven and man are one.

In the back drum unit, you can imagine the difficulty of two famous players from holding the double-sided drum counterclockwise and clockwise to biting the double-sided drum in the mouth of the back drum. People spin with the drums. I can't see the people surrounded by drums, only the twelve drums keep turning.

Sitting on the altar is a sacrificial activity with rap as the main form. People are tired after midnight, but God's achievements are endless for three days and nights. Recall the merits and demerits of ancestors around the bonfire, first talk about singing and then come from the Three Emperors and Five Emperors to all the immortals. People use singing and dancing to please the gods, hoping to get their care and blessing. At the same time, farmers constantly sum up experience in their long life, and gradually reach some understanding with everything around them under the coordinated operation of sunshine, land, mountains and rivers, trees, that is, operate with the same structure and rhythm, and abstract a set of ontological views on the unity of man and nature from the relationship between farming, sowing, gathering and dependence on time and place. Thus, a picture of China traditional culture belonging to this shore is established, which is the destination of Qin 'an people's survival and the foundation of their farming life and belief.

Second, the performance mechanism of Qin 'an sheepskin drum ritual dance

(A) sheepskin inspiration inheritance:

1. Participants are not limited to members of the Wang family in the village, and all interested men, regardless of age, can learn this encouragement.

2. Teaching methods: (1) handed down from generation to generation; (2) It was taught to others by highly respected people with strong performance skills.

(B) The role distribution of sheepskin inspiration:

There are three main roles in the performance of this dance, namely

1, Shigong

A red scarf with yellow velvet flowers on the forehead. Wearing a black double-breasted coat, the collar and cuffs of the double-breasted shirt are inlaid with red edges. Wearing black knickerbockers with a black or red ribbon around her waist. Wear black cloth shoes.

Step 2 dress up as a man

The headdress is called the dragon horse head by the locals. Tie a net hat made of black and red or colored string and a hair band with red stripes on the back of the head, leaving two red silks on the chest and a long braid at the suffix of the net headdress. Wearing a red double-breasted sleeveless jacket. Wear red skirt and black cloth shoes. Purple double-breasted long-sleeved over-the-knee robe.

3. Drummer

A yellow headscarf, wearing a pink double-breasted coat with a round neck and a red collar. Wearing a red ribbon around her waist and black cloth shoes on her feet.

(C) the modeling characteristics of sheepskin drum

The main prop of Qin 'an sheepskin drum ritual dance is sheepskin drum, which is not only a dance tool, but also a musical instrument and ritual vessel. The sheepskin drum consists of three rings and nine buckles. Legend has it that these three rings symbolize Fuxi Nuwa and Xuanyuan Huangdi respectively. Perhaps because of the unique meaning of "nine" in China culture, the small drum ring of sheepskin drum is connected with nine small rings, which is called "nine buckles". The sheepskin drum is beautifully made, and there is a set of strict procedures from material selection and processing to maintenance and use. As a symbol of auspiciousness and sacredness, every time it is used, the people will be wrapped in heavy cloth bags, gathered together and solemnly stored in the prestigious villagers' homes in the village.

1, drum shape and drum surface

The drum shape of sheepskin drum is a fan-shaped iron ring wrapped in sheepskin, which is usually divided into two sizes. The diameter of the drum is 62 cm. Before use, the roller is usually laid flat on the ground and sprayed with a small amount of water for a short time to prevent the surface of the roller from bursting after interval use.

2. Drum handle and drum ring

The drum ring is made by bending flat iron bars. When the iron ring is bent to be straight, the drum handle is about 13cm long. The outer side of the drum handle is wrapped with cloth or hemp rope to prevent the iron handle from grinding hands and facilitate the grip. In addition, it can also play a role in connecting the drum ring with the drum ring.

Step 3 drum circle

The big drum ring is an iron ring with a diameter of about 18cm. The iron ring is decorated with six small iron rings with a diameter of about 7cm, with cymbals in the middle. The lower end of the big drum ring is inlaid with a small drum ring with a diameter of about 8cm. The small drum ring is also decorated with three small iron rings with a diameter of about 7cm. Locals call it the "swish" sound when the three rings and nine buckles collide when shaking.

Step 4 drum whip

The whip of sheepskin drum is used to play drums, and the props are about 40cm long. Carved out of wood. The top of the whip is inverted into an oval or round head shape to increase the elasticity of the whip. The whip rod of the drum whip is wrapped with cloth or rattan. To prevent damage to the drum surface during impact. The tail end of the drum whip is decorated with colored cloth strips.

(four) other props (or accompaniment instruments) inspired by sheepskin

In addition to the sheepskin drum, Qin 'an sheepskin drum also has supporting props such as axe, three-pointed and two-edged nine-ring knife board. These props are given specific meanings to adapt to their economic life and farming beliefs year after year.

1, three-pointed, two-edged nine-ring knife

The rectangular double-tough cutter face with a length of about 22cm and a width of about 6cm is slightly thicker in the middle and gradually thinner in the two tough directions. There are three toothed tips above the rectangular knife surface, the lower part is semicircular, and a handle about 9 cm long is embedded in the middle. The lower part is decorated with a big drum ring and a small drum ring with the same shape as the sheepskin drum. The diameter of the big drum circle is about 13cm, and the diameter of the small drum circle is about 7cm. The diameter of the nine small rings is about 1.5cm.

2. Board

Six boards, length 16cm. , 5cm wide and O.5cm thick, six boards are strung into holes with hemp rope or red cloth strips, and the holes above each board are padded with leather rivets. The top ends of the first plate and the second plate are tied with red cloth nails.

Step 3 chop with an axe

The total length is about 58cm. * * * is divided into three parts. The top of the iron bar with a front section of about 25 cm and a diameter of about 2.5 cm is triangular. On the other side of the iron bar connected with the fan-shaped axe face with the diameter of 10cm in the front section, the inverted S-shaped axe handle is connected with the iron bar in the front section and wrapped with red cloth. The middle part is a wooden bar with a length of about 19cm, and the iron bar with a length of about 15cm is spherical in the middle and gradually tapers into a cone.

4. Ordinary flags

The wooden handle is about 63 cm long and the top is decorated with silk or colored cloth.

Step 5 paste

A cylindrical wooden stick with a diameter of about 4cm and a length of about 168cm.

Third, Qin 'an sheepskin drum ceremony dance performance map

Note: The number of performers in folk dances is often not fixed. In the author's three surveys, the number of performers is different each time, but the changes of their movements and formations are unchanged. So in order to make the whole schematic diagram look clear, eight people are selected as a group as a sign.

The sheepskin dance runs through the whole ceremony, and there are different dances at different stages, telling the different wishes of the villagers. The most typical dance in Qin 'an sheepskin drum dance is the dance rhythm and dress-up associated with Fuxi culture. Shipo's headdress is called a fish-scale net hat, which has the head of a dragon and a horse, a braid repeatedly thrown upward at the back of the head, and an S-shape that constantly flows but never changes in the sacrificial dance, pushing the whole sacrificial ceremony to a climax. In our on-the-spot investigation, we have never seen the straight line formation, the double dragon spit spin, the splayed four-cornered snake shed its shell, the double dragon swing, the tail spin, the snail scissors and the double spin all derived from the S-shaped winding flow. All the audience are solemn, and all the dancers seem to be the monomer of movement inspired by some emotion. An invisible attraction made them give up all their needs and desires at that moment. Drummers and dance team leaders danced for a motive, an emotion and a purpose, changing various formations in an orderly way, and a whole set of sacrificial scenes of dragon totem dance appeared in front of us.

Four, my song, my dance three kowtows-high program

Cultural sacrifice ceremony

In Qin 'an's "vivid" sacrificial ceremony, the collective activities of all the people in Gongzui Village are essentially the concentrated expression of the village's cultural beliefs. This cultural belief exists in a series of ceremonies, which are transformed into tangible, concrete, direct and sensible images with the help of ten folk art forms, which not only increases the vividness of sacrificial ceremonies, but also casts a mysterious color on sacrificial activities. What deserves our attention is that there is a highly stylized ceremony in this kind of folk sacrifice activity.

1 and 17 paragraphs in the sowing plan are clear and complete;

2. Each section shall go through several levels according to the fixed procedures such as drum holding, dancing, drumming, singing, divination and bowing.

3. When drumming and singing, one person sings the harmony of all; There are three forms of duet (similar to duet)

4. One common feature of the three singing methods is that the melody and mode of each paragraph are different, but the mode and melody of the same paragraph are the same, but the lyrics are different, which has the characteristics of three songs stacked;

5. The typical dance area in each paragraph stands out:

6. After each paragraph, there is a salute ceremony of beating drums and kowtowing three times.

The appearance of these stylized ceremonies is by no means a one-off event, but a sign that folk sacrificial ceremonies and folk art forms are highly mature in long-term social life. The dance and singing sequences in these fixed programs reflect people's philosophical thinking, rational interest, plain life realm and plain lifestyle under the influence of farming culture. With the help of folk art, these long-standing beliefs and rituals are not mediocre and shallow, but sophisticated and mature after washing away the lead, profound, generous, stable and quiet. In this way, year after year, according to the procedural cycle, rational deliberation is revealed everywhere. The essence of this highly stylized sacrificial ceremony is the epitome of the social life of residents in this area. This is not only related to their living environment and ongoing affairs, but also closely related to the cooperative nature of their behavior in ritual activities, which reveals social rules or habits. Therefore, to a certain extent, the stylized sacrificial ceremony is a gathering of people with the same social life. The concentrated expression of their common needs is that their human or spiritual habits can indirectly or directly meet the needs of the gathering. (For example, in Qin 'an's sacrificial activities, we can see the different division of labor between men and women in daily life and work, the status and relationship between village cadres and ordinary people between elders and juniors, the interaction between villagers and outsiders, and the attitude towards everything around them. Of course, with the development of society, this stylized ritual activity itself has gradually divorced from the practical function of the most tenacious witchcraft, but the traditional power hidden in stylized rituals (the compulsion of historical means, the compulsion of ideology and morality, etc.). ) still affect it. Therefore, residents' life actions and social contracts are open, traditional and standardized, which not only guarantee each other's interests, emphasize each other's responsibilities, but also arouse the public's actions and memories, and play an important role in maintaining residents' unity.

Of course, highly stylized folk ritual activities, as an important product of human spiritual culture, not only have the above functions, but also have the function of eliminating the tension and bondage of life. After people have done a lot of hard work for culture, culture has prepared some compensation for them to adjust the monotonous life and reduce the burden of some lives. Therefore, in Qin 'an's folk sacrificial activities, folk art not only plays this function, but also creates a relaxed and free atmosphere, which makes singers, dancers and viewers breathe a sigh of relief, inspires people's lives and gives social relations a chance to readjust. The unique role played by folk art in stylized ritual activities is the most vivid and authentic emotional expression of people in belief ceremonies. Thus, it has become an important carrier of culture and has an important impact on the origin of its own beliefs and mutual recognition in real life.

Qin 'an's sheepskin drum dance is a combination of song, dance and music in artistic form, while Qin 'an's folk sacrifice is a comprehensive platform of folk belief and folk art in cultural form. It is this characteristic that determines its important cultural value. This mixed state implies the basic form of primitive culture. This kind of folk sacrificial activity, which runs through with a sheepskin drum, is still carried out in an orderly way three times a year with its own inherent procedures and unchanging rhythm in the ever-changing times, which is the natural expression of the villagers' unpretentious beliefs between heaven and earth. The sheepskin drum is still jingling, the figure is still dancing, the song is still echoing, and the pious heart will bow down in an instant.

The research on folk dance culture from Qin 'an sheepskin drum ritual dance has put us in a situation that needs serious consideration and treatment. However, whenever we set foot on the land of Qin 'an and are involved in solemn folk sacrifice activities, we will feel the unique situation there and realize the harmony, depth and massiness behind the form. I will pray that in today's high-speed economic development, let them breathe freely and flow freely in this open world!