Traditional Miao Songs

Members of the Miao ethnic group live primarily in mountainous regions of southern China, particularly in the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou(gway-joe), Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan(sih choo-ahn), and Yunnan. Traditionally, Miao(meow) music is often accompanied by the lusheng(loo0shuhng), an instrument consisting of multiple bamboo pipes, a cup-shaped body, and a reed. The lusheng is known as a “talking instrument” because it creates musical tones that mimic the human voice. On auspicioussuccessful or prosperous; a sign of future success occasions—such as festivals, weddings, building a new house, or welcoming honorable guests to one’s home—the Miao people play the lusheng while singing and dancing. During the 2014 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program China: Traditiona practice, skill, or talent that is passed down from generation to generation. and the Art of Living, audience members—including many younger visitors—joined the Leishan Miao Music and Dance Group from southeastern Guizhou Province in performances of song, dance, and language learning.