Daur Uqin
The Daur Wuqin, also known as "Wuchun", is a form of storytelling of the Daur people. It was formed and popular in Daur settlements such as Meilisi Daur District, Fulaerji District, Fuyu County and Longjiang County in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province, Moridawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Hulunbuir League, Xiguitu Banner in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Tacheng District of Xinjiang Uygur. Wuqin was originally a narrative poem written in Manchu by Daur literati during the Qing Dynasty and recited in chanting tunes. Later, folk artists performed these works orally, and Wuqin gradually evolved into a variety of folk art with the meaning of "story chanting or storytelling". The initial performances of Wuqin were mostly oral chanting, and later there were cases where artists used "Huachangsi" (four-stringed harp) to play and sing by themselves. The tunes sung also became richer. In addition to the original chanting tunes, narrative song tunes and small singing tunes were also used for performance. The content of Wuqin programs is rich, including stories about the national hero Morigen, love and marriage, hometown landscapes, myths, fairy tales and legends. Among these programs, the stories reflecting the historical achievements of the national hero Morigen, the epic "Shao Lang and Dai Fu" and the stories adapted from the Han classical masterpieces "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin" are the most popular among the Daur people. The length of the program varies. The elders can sing for several days and nights, while the shorter ones can last from a few minutes to several hours. Traditional Wuqin performances are mostly held during festivals and auspicious celebrations. The audience gathers on the kang in the homes, sits cross-legged and listens to the artists singing. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, a large number of works singing about new life and the new era appeared, such as the Wuqin songs "Singing Ying Jiguang", "Motherland", and "Ode to Beijing" written and performed by Se Re, and "The Origin of an Iron Bucket" and "Since I Met Chairman Mao" written and performed by the late famous Wuqin artist He Rigetu. Wuqin has distinct ethnic style and regional cultural characteristics, and has always been loved by the majority of Daur people. However, in the new historical period, its survival and development have encountered serious challenges and it is in an endangered state. It is very necessary to take corresponding measures to support and protect it.