There is no denying that China’s every nook and cranny is full of surprises and wonders. Nobody could imagine where China is at this point in time unless they come in person and explore things for themselves. To be honest, I am always taken by surprise by the whole kit and caboodle I come across in China. Everything is beyond words.
To get back to the main point, lately, I had the privilege of watching the grand song of the dong ethnic group in Beijing. Right from the moment I heard about the program, I eagerly awaited the days to come with all my heart. I had a butterfly in my stomach. I did not know what I had to do except wait patiently for the day to come.
As a person who significantly raises the value of traditional songs, my enthusiasm for experiencing this untapped cultural event was unmistakable. In the fullness of time, the awaited day approached, and my feelings kept skyrocketing nonstop.
The left, right, and center of the hall were inundated with audiences waiting to watch the performance of the grand song of the dong ethnic group, dancing and singing on the stage.
While waiting, the master of ceremonies appeared on stage to familiarize the audience with the extraordinary personality of the nitty-gritty of the grand song of the dong ethnic group at the earliest possible time. At the end of the day, the long-awaited performance began to take shape.
Decorating head to toe in their beautiful clothing, the grand song of dong ethnic group began their attention-grabbing performance in the twinkling of an eye.
When they came to the stage with their beautiful dances and melodious songs, feelings that I could not express in words electrified my entire body in the blink of an eye. To everyone’s surprise, the instant I experienced that great culture once and heard their music, I could not sit still until they performed on stage.
Their songs and dances have the power to melt viewers’ hearts. Honestly speaking, I fell madly in love with their untapped songs almost immediately. It is no exaggeration to say that it mesmerizes anyone’s heart in a little while.
I had to walk closer to capture a video of their attention-grabbing and heart-melting songs and dances. They were so lovely that even individuals who did not know them could easily get caught up in the moment. I stood up during the whole performance along with others who were equally captivated by the lovely melodies and capturing videos as well as photos.
Be that as it may, a foreigner approached me and whispered something, saying, “What are you feeling?”
I told her that no words under the sun could express the feelings I have for the songs and dances.
“And you?” I inquired of her. She told me that she struggled to find words to describe her feelings as she fought with words. We were whispering.
She went on to say that even people who hate music to death would be captivated by the tunes at the speed of light. They are very unique and engrossing.
The following facts found from a source in black and white provide a clear picture of the grand song of the dong ethnic group.
The grand song of the dong ethnic group is a multi-part, natural, primitive folk chorus without accompaniment or conductor. It focuses on the singing nature, labor, love, friendship, and the history of Dong. The grand song of dong has a history of more than 2,500 years. The music dates back to the spring and autumn and warring states period (770-221 BC).
The discovery of the grand song of dong filled the historical gap without harmony in China and rewrote the history of Chinese choral music. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
The grand song of dong is one of the best-preserved ancient arts and the most characteristic folk music in China. As a multi-part polyphony song, it is extremely rare in both Chinese and world folk music for its unique form and content.
A popular saying among the dong people in Guizhou province in southern China has it that “songs nourish the soul just like rice nourishes the body.”
One of the ethnic minority groups of China, the dong people are most engaged in agriculture and forestry, honest and simple, and rich in creativity. As a folk saying goes, “The dong culture has three treasures: drum tower, grand song, and wind-rain bridge. “ They are the crucial symbol of dong ethnic identity and cultural heritage.
The grand song of dong is not only a cappella performance of folk music, but also a cultural symbol of dong culture. The dong ethnic minority has no written language, so they use folksongs to narrate the people’s history, extoll their belief in the unity of humans and nature, preserve scientific knowledge, express feelings of romantic love and traditional wisdom, and promote moral values such as respect for one’s elders and neighbors. All of dong culture is preserved in these magnificent folksongs.
Some pieces of the grand song of dong are designed to imitate the natural world, such as the chirping of insects, the gurgling of streams, the whistling of the wind, and other soothing natural sounds. The singing is meant to spur the soul and originate from the heart, while simultaneously promoting harmony between mankind and nature.
No wonder that the grand song of dong has been called “An Encyclopedia of dong social customs” and “Code of harmony between human and nature”.
Liping Grand Song of dong ethnic group (LPGS) is from Liping County, which is “the capital of Dong Township”. LPGS was founded in 1972; there are 12 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage in LPGS, which plays an important role in cultural protection, inheritance, and development.
LPGS plays an important role in promoting the culture of the dong nationality; as a beautiful cultural name card of Guizhou Province and the promoter, it has been invited to tour France, Italy, Vienna, Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other countries and regions to participate in major cultural and art festivals for more than hundreds of performances.
It was also invited to participate in major national festivals such as the 2008 Olympic Games, the Grand evening Gala of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and has performed for Party and state leaders and foreign heads of state many times, winning acclaim.
LPGS is committed to the protection and inheritance of the cultural heritage of the dong nationality and constantly keeps pace with The Times to innovate and create. They have been invited to cooperate with artists at home and abroad many times, including Belgian pianist Jean-Francois Maljean, the most famous Chinese tenor YAN Weiwen, SONG Zuying, Chinese movie star NING Jing, and famous pop musician SHANG Wenjie and soon.
In 2019, Liping was selected as the Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art from 2018-2020.
Liping County, known as the “Town of dong capital,” is the county with the largest number of traditional villages and the largest population of dong people in China, the main birthplace and reserve of dong culture, and the declaration and protection place of the world intangible cultural heritage of dong people.
Liping County has 1 world-class, 6 national, and 21 provincial cultural heritage sites, 2 famous Chinese historical and cultural villages, 3 villages with Chinese minority characteristics, and 93 traditional Chinese villages. It is the place where dong culture is the most concentrated, complete and well-preserved.
Liping has the first Zhaoxing dong village, and the largest dong village in China. Chinese National Geographic selected it as the most beautiful rural ancient Town in China. In 2007, it was selected as one of the “33 most attractive tourist destinations in the world” jointly by National Geographic magazine of the United States and China Fashion.
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 3 APRIL 2025
