Music of Manchuria

Manchuria is a region of Northeast China, inhabited by the Manchu and other ethnic groups. There is a great variety of music in Manchuria, with the most well-known throughout China possibly being the Youyouzha, a kind of lullaby that has spread throughout the country. Prominent performers from Manchuria include the mid-20th century film composer Lei Zhenbang and pop stars Xiao Ke and Na Ying.

Ethnic Manchu music is dominated by percussion instruments and is has largely been influenced by their native shamanism. Two forms of drum prevail, the wooden framed "imcin", and the metal framed "dangu" which also has a handle attached to the ring. The "dangu" is the instrument most strongly identified with Manchu shamans.

The octagonal drum is an important and distinctive musical instrument, said to derive from one made from eight pieces of wood given by the eight tribes of the Manchu people, thus symbolizing the unity of these tribes. During the Qing Dynasty, the instrument spread to Beijing and Tianjin, and is still known there.

ee also

Manchu music

External links

* http://www.lgt.ddptt.ln.cn/ -Chinese site dedicated to the study of ethnic Manchu music.