Lusheng Workyard in Paika Village
The village of Pai Ka is known for its manufacture of Lusheng, the characteristic musical instrument of the Miao.
What is Lusheng
Lusheng is an antique reed instrument. The longest one is more than 1 Zhang (a unit of length, 1 Zhang = 3 1/3 meters); while the shortest one is less than 1 Chi (a unit of length, 1 Chi = 1/3 meter).
Some have a maximum of 10 reeds in one Lusheng; some have only single reed or two reeds. The most popular ones have 6 reeds, with forceful but low and deep tone or clear and melodious tone.
During the long history of the development of the Miao's culture, Lusheng has been not only regarded as the symbol of their people, but also mixed together with dance music, acrobatics and Wushu (a form of physical culture) etc.
With the communication and interaction of the culture among various national ethnic groups, the Lusheng dance is also popular in Dong, Shui, Buyi, Yao and Yi people. There are nearly 100 tunes and dance paces with the Lusheng dance, of which, 10-odd are most popular, in lively rhythm and in bold, rough and warm style.
The Lusheng dance may be like this: women's dance accompanied by men's playing or women's and men's dancing accompanied by their own playing. Also Wushu activities and some extremely difficult acrobatic feats of the Miao people have been assimilated in Lusheng dance, which are especially loved by the masses.
What can you do in Paika village
Visit the home of a Lusheng maker in Paika. The village of Paika is well-know as an important Lusheng production base here.
In Paika, the Lusheng musical instrument is made by multiple bamboo pipes, each fitted with a free reed, which are fitted into a long blowing tube made of hardwood.
It most often has five or six pipes of different pitches, and is thus a polyphonic instrument. It comes in sizes ranging from very small to several meters in length.
The making of Lusheng also requires the craftsmen to know some physics and mechanics. Traditionally, the craftsmen in this area make Lusheng by using bellows, hammers, brass, axes, chisels, saws, drills, bitter bamboos, Chinese wood oil and calcareousness
We will continue our visit and stay overnight at Xijiang Village...
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