Naxi Ancient Music Performance

Music is Medicine, it can bring life or death.

Located at the Himalayan foothills of Yunnan, the ancient cultural centre of Lijiang County is mainly inhabited by the ethnic minority called Naxi. Due to its remote geographical location, it has miraculously peserved the ancient Chinese Dongjing music.

Dongjing music was used by the scholars in ancient of China as a kind of”Liyue”(rites and music) activity in Taoist rituals.It has the dual function of harmonizing human relationships. Confucianism and nourishing the body and he soul as in Taoism, Since the music was chiefly used to perform the Transcendent Scripture of the Great Grotto of Wenchang (Da-dong Xianjing ), it was called Dongjing (grotto scripture) music. This music later became popular among the cultural elites during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

During the Jiajing period in the Ming Dynasty(1522-1566AD),DongJing music was introduced into Yunnan through the Naxi. With the spread of western knowledge in China in the latter part of the Qing Dynasty, this music almost vanished from Central China, but has survived in the isolation of Lijiang County.

Nakhi music and its powerful ideas were discovered by Mr.Xuan Ke,He Yian,and YangZengLie. Together they rebuild the Nakhi Orchestra in order to research,to train young students.

Dayan Nakhi Ancient Music Association's effort in preserving and promoting Dongjing music has much attention and interests among scholars in China and overseas. The Ensemble enjoys the prestige of having”three old rarities”: ancient musical compositions, authentic instruments and elderly musicians. The works to be featured in this concert can be traced back as far as the Tang Dynasty and consist of accompanied songs and instrumental pieces.