The Naxi people primarily inhabit the Hengduan Mountains region at the confluence of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet, with their largest population concentration in northern Yunnan and Lijiang City serving as their demographic and cultural center. According to the 2010 national census data (2010 Zhonghua renmin gongheguo renkou pucha tongji biao:44), China’s Naxi population numbers approximately 326,295, of whom 309,858 reside in Yunnan Province. Their settlements extend northwest into the northeastern part of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and further north to Mangkang County in Qamdo, Tibet, while northeastward distribution reaches into Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. While internationally recognized for their elegant Han-influenced Dongjing instrumental ensemble music, the Naxi also possess a rich repertoire of folksongs in their native language that traditionally infused daily life—from work and courtship to funeral rites—each genre governed by distinct social conventions and taboos, though these remain far less known beyond their communities.
纳西族主要聚居在滇、川、藏交界的横断山区，其人口最集中的区域位于滇西北地区，以丽江市作为该民族的人口主要聚居地与文化中心。根据2010年全国人口普查数据（《2010中华人民共和国人口普查统计表》：44），中国纳西族人口约为326,295人，其中居住于云南省的就达309,858人。此外，中国纳西族的分布区域从云南向西北延伸至迪庆藏族自治州东北部，继续往北抵达西藏昌都市芒康县，而东北方向的分布则深入四川凉山彝族自治州。纳西族以其融汇汉族雅乐风格的洞经音乐闻名于世，同时，他们更蕴藏着丰富的母语民歌体系——从劳作、婚恋到丧仪，这些渗透于生活方方面面的歌谣各自形成独特的社会规范与禁忌，却鲜为外界所知。
Bagua (“八卦”, Eight Trigrams): A Classic Work from the Naxi Dongjing Repertoire
Bagua (“八卦”, Eight Trigrams) is a traditional ritual piece with Han Chinese origins that has been passed down in Lijiang, primarily through local Dongjing associations. The version documented in this video is a later adaptation taught by Naxi musician Li Guoqun (李国群) to a new generation of Naxi children. According to Tingting Tang’s interview with Huang Limei (黄丽梅), a musician from the Lijiang Ancient Music Association (October 14, 2025), this adaptation was first created by Naxi musicians Xuan Ke (宣科) and He Zhong (和中) during a recording session in Guangzhou in early 2000s.
《八卦》源于汉族传统仪式音乐，流传于丽江地区并主要由当地民间音乐组织“洞经会”传承的经典曲目。本视频所呈现的是经过后世改编的新版《八卦》，由纳西族音乐家李国群传授给纳西族新生代。根据唐婷婷对丽江古乐会音乐家黄丽梅的采访，该改编版本最早由纳西族音乐家宣科与和中在二十世纪初于广州录音时完成首次改编。（采访于2025年10月14日）
Naxi marriage lament (纳西哭嫁调)
In the past, people in many places in China sang laments when their daughters married, and this still occurs in ethnic minority areas, such as among the Hani, Yi, or Naxi in Southwest China. Since daughters typically married out of the village, and since roads were formerly poor and so travel was difficult, the married daughter would only rarely be able to return to see her parents. As a result, the tunes of marriage songs were usually very sad. On fieldwork in Jinping in May 2018 with a Hani woman aged in her 50s, I was unable to make a recording of such a song, as the singer stopped several times as she couldn’t keep herself from crying.
在过去，中国许多地方的人们在女儿出嫁时会唱哭嫁歌，这一习俗至今仍在部分少数民族地区保留，比如中国西南地区的哈尼族、彝族和纳西族。由于女儿通常要远嫁外村，加之过去山间道路崎岖、交通不便，出嫁后的女儿难得有机会回娘家探望父母。因此，婚嫁歌曲的旋律往往充满哀伤。2018年5月，我在金平县与一位五十多岁的哈尼族妇女进行田野调查时，曾尝试录制这样一首哭嫁歌，但歌者数次因泣不成声而中断，最终未能完成录制。
Lijuan Qian 2019. ‘The Music of China’. On Music of the World. Class 12, 13, 14 and 15. Herndon, VA. Connect for Education, Inc. (https://c4elink.org/).
Naxi Folk Song and Dance Al ka bba laq (阿卡巴拉)
Al ka bba laq is a traditional folk song and dance form well preserved within the Ruerka (汝卡), a culturally distinct subgroup of the Naxi people. The Ruerka retain distinctive cultural features that differ from those of other Naxi branches. During performances, two groups typically form two incomplete semicircles, holding hands while moving clockwise. Each group comprises roughly equal numbers of men and women (though exact parity isn’t required). The groups engage in call-and-response exchanges: one group initiates with song and movement, while the opposing group answers—retaining the melodic framework but introducing lyrical variation. The cheerful melody follows a binary structure: the first section, sung by women with relatively slow steps, contrasts with the second section where men sing while performing high-legged jumps and stomps. In 2014, it was recognized as a representative project of Yunnan’s provincial-level ICH.
《阿卡巴拉》是流传于云南省迪庆藏族自治州香格里拉市三坝纳西族乡的纳西族汝卡支系中的一种传统歌舞形式，至今保存较为完整的。三坝的纳西汝卡人在很多方面保留着与其他纳西支系不同的文化特征（比如语言和歌舞）。《阿卡巴拉》作为当地最具代表性的民间歌舞之一在表演时，通常由两组舞队以一唱一答的形式进行表演。每组舞队人员分别围成两个半圆，手牵手，按顺时针方向进行舞蹈。每队男女比例大致相当（无需绝对均等）。演出以对歌应答形式展开：一组以歌声舞步起兴，另一组则保留原有旋律框架即兴编词回应。其欢快的旋律采用二元结构：第一段由女声演唱，舞步相对舒缓；第二段则由男声演唱，伴以高抬腿跳跃与顿足动作。2014年，该歌舞被列入云南省省级非物质文化遗产代表性项目。
Naxi folk song and dance al ka bba laq (阿卡巴拉), performed by Naxi villagers from Wushuwan village at bba perq dder (White Water Terrace, 白水台), Sanba Naxi Ethnic Township, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. (March 17, 2024 | Filmed by Tingting Tang | Fieldwork supported by the Asian Music Small Grant.)
Naxi Ngail (gourd mouth organ, 葫芦笙) Dance
The gourd mouth organ (葫芦笙), known as ngail in the Naxi language, is a traditional wind instrument commonly used in Naxi folk music and dance. The Naxi gourd mouth organ dance remains widely practiced among certain Naxi communities in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. For instance, in Shangri-La City’s Sanba Naxi Township within Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan, and in Muli County’s Eya Naxi Township within Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, this dance form serves as a popular traditional musical performance during festivals, celebrations, and recreational gatherings, providing both entertainment and cultural continuity for local Naxi people.
葫芦笙是纳西族民间音乐和舞蹈中经常使用的一种传统乐器，纳西语称为ngail。纳西族葫芦笙舞至今仍然广泛流行于云南和四川的部分纳西族群中，比如云南省迪庆藏族自治州香格里拉市三坝纳西族乡和四川省凉山彝族自治州木里藏自治县俄亚纳西族乡的芦笙舞都是当地纳西族人在节日、喜事等庆典中和自娱自乐的常见传统音乐表演形式。
Naxi ngail Dance (葫芦笙舞), performed by Naxi villagers from Dongba Village, Sanba Naxi Ethnic Township, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. (March 19, 2024 | Filmed by Tingting Tang | Fieldwork supported by the Asian Music Small Grant.)
Naxi Folk Song and Dance Ji Zzoq Zol (金佐措)
Naxi folk song and dance Ji Zzoq Zol (金佐措) is a unique traditional folk melody preserved among the Naxi people in Eya Naxi Township, Muli Tibetan Autonomous County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province. Characterized by improvised lyrics and call-and-response singing between a lead vocalist and chorus, this song is demonstrated in the video through a community learning session organized by Dongba Zhaxi (扎西), where villagers of Lusi Village rehearse the melody during the local Naxi New Year celebrations. Eya represents the last remaining Naxi community that continues to calculate the New Year according to the Dongba calendar—a tradition lost among other Naxi groups, who now observe the Chinese Lunar New Year as the start of their annual cycle.
《金佐措》(Ji Zzoq Zol) 是流传于四川省凉山彝族自治州木里藏族自治县俄亚纳西族乡的纳西族特有民歌曲调，其歌词多为即兴创作，采用一领众和的演唱形式。本视频记录了鲁司村纳西族村民在当地东巴扎西的组织下，于纳西新年期间学习排练这首传统歌舞的场景。俄亚纳西族乡是迄今唯一保留按东巴历法推算新年日期的纳西聚居区，这一传统在其他纳西族群中已逐渐消失，取而代之的是以中国传统春节作为新年伊始。
Naxi folk song and dace Ji Zzoq Zol (金佐措), performed by Naxi villagers from Lusi Village, Eya Naxi Township, Muli Tibetan Autonomous County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. (January 14, 2024 | Filmed by Tingting Tang | Fieldwork supported by the Asian Music Small Grant.)
Naxi Children’s Song (纳西族童谣)
纳西族民歌体系中包含丰富的童谣体裁，纳西语中分别称为”ssiul ssiuf zzer bee”（儿童歌曲旋律）、”ssiul ssiuf ju juq bee”或”ssiul ssiuf dal bee”（儿童言语旋律）。这些童谣既是纳西儿童成长过程中的重要音乐陪伴，也是纳西人进行家庭教育、传递传统知识、礼仪规范与文化习俗的重要载体。纳西童谣的题材涵盖范围极为广泛，其内容涉及自然现象（如日月星辰、风云雷电）、动植物（如花草树木、昆虫鸟兽）、日常生活（如柴米油盐、家禽牲畜、劳动场景）以及社会关系（如亲人朋友）等儿童认知世界中的各类事物。
纳西童谣的守护者与研究者、省级传承人和冬梅女士，将这些珍贵的儿童歌谣依其内容与形式，将其划分为十三个类别：包括启迪智慧的“数数谣、游戏谣、问答（对答）谣、接字谣、谜语谣”；传承文化与叙述故事的“叙事谣、节日谣、祈盼谣、催眠谣、教诲谣、诉苦谣”；以及反映生产劳动的“放牧谣、采摘谣”。 这些承载着民族记忆的旋律，伴随一代代纳西儿童度过了纯真而深邃的童年。
The Naxi folksong tradition encompasses a rich variety of children’s songs, referred to in the Naxi language as ssiul ssiuf zzer bee (children’s song melody), ssiul ssiuf ju juq bee, or ssiul ssiuf dal bee (children’s speech melody). These nursery rhymes serve not only as essential musical companionship during Naxi children’s upbringing but also as important vehicles for family education, transmitting traditional knowledge, etiquette, and cultural customs.
The thematic scope of Naxi children’s songs is exceptionally broad, covering natural phenomena (such as the sun, moon, stars, wind, clouds, and thunder), flora and fauna (like flowers, plants, trees, insects, birds, and wild animals), daily life (including basic necessities, poultry, livestock, and labor scenes), and social relationships (including family and friends)—essentially all elements that enter a child’s worldview.
He Dongmei (和冬梅), a provincial-level inheritor and researcher of Naxi children’s songs, has systematically classified these precious children’s songs into thirteen categories based on their content and form. These include wisdom-enhancing songs (counting songs, game songs, question-and-answer songs, chain songs, and riddle songs), culture-preserving and narrative songs (storytelling songs, festival songs, aspiration songs, lullabies, instructional songs, and lamentation songs), as well as labor-reflecting songs (herding songs and gathering songs). These melodies, carrying the collective memory of the Naxi people, have accompanied generations of children through a childhood imbued with cultural depth and innocence.
The Blue Blue Sky Appears
（蓝蓝晴天现出来）
Recording collected and arranged by He Dongmei（收集整理录音：和冬梅）
Lyrics Summary
Scatter, clouds, away you go,
Let the blue sky shine and show.
We’ll cook a little chicken for you,
And serve a sleeping cat for you,
We’ll cook a piglet for you,
And a short-tailed horse for you to ride.
Scatter, clouds, and move aside,
Let the blue sky shine and show.
Scatter, clouds, and move aside,
Let the blue sky shine and show.
For you, we’ll fry some fragrant beans,
Make sticky rice in golden sheens,
And bake layered bread with love inside.
Scatter, clouds, and move aside,
Let the blue sky shine and show.
Scatter, clouds, and move aside,
Let the blue sky shine and show.
云儿云儿靠边散，蓝蓝晴天现出来，
小小鸡仔宰给你，闭眼猫咪宰给你，
吃奶猪崽宰给你，短尾马驹让你骑。
云儿云儿靠边散，蓝蓝晴天现出来。
云儿云儿靠边散，蓝蓝晴天现出来，
小小香豆炒给你，滑糯糍粑炸给你，
千层粑粑打给你。
云儿云儿靠边散，蓝蓝晴天现出来。
云儿云儿靠边散，蓝蓝晴天现出来。
A Bi Ji
（啊哔叽）
Recording collected and arranged by He Dongmei（收集整理录音：和冬梅）
Lyrics Summary
A bi ji ji, (Onomatopoeic word)
A na ji ji,
A bi ji ji,
A na ji ji,
Step by step, climb up one,
Step by step, climb two more,
Step by step, climb three more,
Step by step, climb four more,
Step by step, climb five more.
Ji gu ji a, (Onomatopoeic word)
Ji gu ji a,
Ji gu ji a,
Ji gu ji a,
Bo lo lo lo!
啊哔叽叽，啊呐叽叽，
啊哔叽叽，啊呐叽叽，
往上爬一节节，往上爬两节节，
往上爬三节节，往上爬四节节，往上爬五节节，
叽咕叽呀，叽咕叽呀，
叽咕叽呀，叽咕叽呀，波咯咯咯！
Bright Moon, Shining Light
（月儿明又亮）
Recording collected and arranged by He Dongmei（收集整理录音：和冬梅）
Lyrics Summary
Little moon so bright and clear,
Six plates of preserved fruits and seeds are laid,
Six pairs of chopsticks, laid out neatly.
You offer me a plate of treats to eat，
When my own home has made ours, too,
I’ll bring some over to share with you.
* In traditional Naxi cultural context, “preserved fruits” (糖果) collectively refers to homemade preserved fruits, dried fruits, and assorted fruit-based sweets.
小小月儿明又亮，
糖果瓜子摆六盘，
筷子齐齐摆六双，
一盘糖果送给我，
待到我家糖果熟，
又送你家去尝尝。
*在纳西族传统文化语境中，“糖果”泛指自家制作的蜜饯、果脯及各类瓜果点心。