MUZI MUZIChinese Matrix

Mongolian and Northern Peoples' Songs

One long song carries the whole steppe

Introduction

Mongolian long song and khoomei, with the songs of the Oroqen, Daur, Hezhen and other northern peoples

This record covers the traditional songs of the Mongols and of the Evenki, Oroqen, Daur, Hezhen, Xibe, Korean and other northern peoples. Mongolian long song (II-3) stretches few words over long melodies and is known for its nogula ornaments; in khoomei (II-4) one singer produces a sustained low drone and a melody above it at the same time; Mongolian folk song (II-105) also includes short song, the Khorchin narrative songs and the court-derived guru songs. Among the other northern peoples are the Oroqen zandaren (II-107), the Daur zhaendale (II-108), the Hezhen jialingkuo (II-171) and the Korean Arirang (II-147). Long song has been recorded in written works since the 13th century; in 2005 it was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece jointly by China and Mongolia, and khoomei was inscribed in 2009.

Timeline

13th century to present
1250 · OriginUNESCO states that Mongolian long song has been recorded in literary works since the 13th century; the national ICH site describes the Ordos guru song as the oldest form of long song, with court songs such as The Two Steeds of the Holy Lord mostly dating from the Yuan.1880 · EvolutionAround 1880 the Uzumchin people created the long song Durun Zana; in the late Qing and early Republic the long narrative song flourished as never before on the Khorchin grassland, accompanied by the sihu, the chor and other instruments, some songs lasting more than two hours.1931 · EvolutionIn April 1931 Gada Meiren, leader of the Khorchin rising against land clearance, was killed; the narrative song Gada Meiren that the people sang about him has more than five hundred stanzas, and the version arranged and translated by An Bo became known across China.2005 · ImpactIn 2005 Mongolian long song was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, jointly for China and Mongolia, and was moved to the Representative List in 2008; Mongolian khoomei was inscribed in 2009. From 2006 the national list took in long song, khoomei and the songs of the northern peoples.
  1. 1250OriginUNESCO states that Mongolian long song has been recorded in literary works since the 13th century; the national ICH site describes the Ordos guru song as the oldest form of long song, with court songs such as The Two Steeds of the Holy Lord mostly dating from the Yuan.
  2. 1880EvolutionAround 1880 the Uzumchin people created the long song Durun Zana; in the late Qing and early Republic the long narrative song flourished as never before on the Khorchin grassland, accompanied by the sihu, the chor and other instruments, some songs lasting more than two hours.
  3. 1931EvolutionIn April 1931 Gada Meiren, leader of the Khorchin rising against land clearance, was killed; the narrative song Gada Meiren that the people sang about him has more than five hundred stanzas, and the version arranged and translated by An Bo became known across China.
  4. 2005ImpactIn 2005 Mongolian long song was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, jointly for China and Mongolia, and was moved to the Representative List in 2008; Mongolian khoomei was inscribed in 2009. From 2006 the national list took in long song, khoomei and the songs of the northern peoples.

Heritage Listings

  1. 2005UNESCO Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityUrtiin duu · traditional folk long song · joint with Mongolia
  2. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · II-3 Mongolian long song · no. 34 · nominated by Inner Mongolia
  3. 2006National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage1st batch · II-4 Mongolian khoomei · no. 35 · nominated by Inner Mongolia
  4. 2008UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity3.COM · Urtiin duu · incorporated from the 2005 proclamation · Mongolia and China
  5. 2008National list extension2nd batch · II-3 Mongolian long song · Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture and Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County · Xinjiang
  6. 2008National list extension2nd batch · II-4 Mongolian khoomei · Altay Prefecture · Xinjiang
  7. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · II-105 Mongolian folk song (Khorchin narrative song · Ordos short song · Ordos guru song · Fuxin East Mongolian short song · Gorlos Mongolian folk song) · no. 604 · nominated by Tongliao · Ordos and Hanggin Banner · Inner Mongolia · Fuxin Mongol Autonomous County · Liaoning · Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County · Jilin
  8. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · II-106 Evenki folk song (Evenki narrative song) · no. 605 · nominated by Evenki Autonomous Banner · Inner Mongolia
  9. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · II-107 Oroqen folk song (Oroqen zandaren) · no. 606 · nominated by Oroqen Autonomous Banner · Inner Mongolia · and Greater Khingan Prefecture · Heilongjiang
  10. 2008National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage2nd batch · II-108 Daur folk song (Daur zhaendale · Hanbodai Daur folk song) · no. 607 · nominated by Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner · Inner Mongolia · and Qiqihar · Heilongjiang
  11. 2009UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity4.COM 13.19 · Mongolian art of singing: Khoomei
  12. 2011National list extension3rd batch · II-105 Mongolian folk song (Urad folk song) · Urad Front Banner · Inner Mongolia
  13. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · II-147 Arirang · no. 1077 · nominated by Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture · Jilin
  14. 2014National list extension4th batch · II-3 Mongolian long song (Barga long song) · New Barag Left Banner · Inner Mongolia
  15. 2014National list extension4th batch · II-105 Mongolian folk song · Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture · Qinghai
  16. 2014National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage4th batch · II-161 Xibe folk song · no. 1255 · nominated by Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County · Xinjiang
  17. 2021National list extension5th batch · II-3 Mongolian long song (Uzumchin long song) · West Uzumchin Banner · Xilingol League · Inner Mongolia
  18. 2021National list extension5th batch · II-105 Mongolian folk song (Khoshut folk song · Mongolian short song of Wenquan County · Xinjiang) · Alxa Left Banner · Inner Mongolia · and Wenquan County · Bortala · Xinjiang
  19. 2021National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage5th batch · II-171 Hezhen jialingkuo · no. 1385 · nominated by Raohe County · Shuangyashan · Heilongjiang