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The Singing Song Tradition in many Chinese minor groups

There is a Chinese saying that all the minor groups are good at saying and dancing, like the Zang people, Yi people and Zhuang people. There is a very interesting Singing-song tradition in these groups. The youth in national costumes line up and start the antiphonal singing, and the lyrics of the songs cover a wide areas including astronomy, geography, national history, daily life and farming knowledge, etc. Therefore, the singing ground also serves as a valuable place for imparting knowledge. On that occasion, young men and women living within ten miles will all come to the singing ground and young men will sing to their favorite women. Usually, they begin with the “touring songs” for observing their opponents and the “encountering songs” and “inviting songs” for courting their sweethearts. If the woman consents to the courting, the young man will sing the “enquiring song” and the love songs. All the lyrics are improvised and sung according to their feelings and the scene, as a bond connecting the 2 young hearts. Therefore, it is an ideal occasion for young people to get acquainted and find their love.

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