Page 10 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (99)

09 I AM THE GUARDIAN | 我是守护者
Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
A guardian of rice fields
我在家乡守望梯田
ani polyphonic folk songs, rooted in the
vibrant Hani rice terraces farming culture,
encapsulate the essence of labor, harvest
blessings, love, and reverence for nature.
H Through soulful singing, vibrant dance, and
mesmerizing instrumentals, these songs vividly portray the
daily lives of the Hani people. Che Zhixiong is a dedicated
inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Hani poly- path of preserving and inheriting this cherished
phonic folk songs, hailing from Qielongzhongzhai Village
in Honghe County, Yunnan Province. For years, he has fer-
vently pursued the living legacy of Hani culture, ensuring its
enduring existence.
红河哈尼梯田文化景观
Che Zhixiong, a member of the Hani eth- During weekends, children in the village
nic group, possesses striking features including spend their entire day with Che, immersing
big and bright eyes, a high and straight nose, themselves in the world of folk songs and tra-
and a sharp contrast between his dark skin
ditional dance. They learn to sing and dance
and snow-white teeth. At the age of 19, he while also embracing the wonders of video
embarked on a systematic journey of learning recording, transforming their learning journey
the art of Hani polyphonic folk songs from his into a delightful adventure. Outside of holi-
father. Since then, he has remained dedicated days, around twenty children visit his home to
to his hometown, steadfastly marching on the learn polyphonic folk songs, and during winter
and summer breaks, the number expands to
musical tradition.
over thirty children.
“Rather than perceiving the intangible Che, a devoted guardian for the rice
cultural heritage as static, we must blend the terraces, cultivates his own and neighboring
essence of polyphonic folk songs with the pres- farmers’ terraces while also preserving and cul-
ent economic and cultural development needs, tivating the village’s 13 ancient varieties of red
infusing them with a renewed significance,” rice. This transforms Qielongzhongzhai Village
emphasized Che. According to him, the respon- into a model demonstration site, protecting the
sibility of young inheritors from his generation red rice germplasm resources and preserving
extends beyond the traditional transmission of the ecological integrity of the Hani rice terrac-
polyphonic folk songs. It also entails leverag- es. With Che leading the way, over 10 house-
ing modern equipment to record, organize, and holds in the village have thrived through rural
present these songs, allowing a wider audience tourism.
to appreciate and understand the profound Today, the Hani people remain steadfast
beauty of Hani polyphonic folk songs through guardians of the farming civilization handed
innovative mediums. down by their ancestors. As the rice-plant-
In 2018, Che started to capture the es- ing season arrives, the resounding melodies
sence of Hani villages, including their vibrant of Hani polyphonic folk songs ebb and flow
festivals, sacred ceremonies, rice terrace farm- amidst the rice terraces, evoking deep emotions
ing, and everyday life, using a video camera. in the hearts of all who hear them. In recog-
“Through the lens, I document various facets nition of their cultural significance, the Hani
of our daily studies, aiming to both preserve polyphonic folk songs were rightfully included
this valuable information and share it online, in the inaugural national intangible
enabling a broader audience to appreciate the cultural heritage list in 2006.
richness of polyphonic folk songs. It has great-
ly contributed to the development and preser-
vation of our treasured cultural heritage,” Che
explained.