Bang——Bang——Bang——
Three drums broke the tranquility of the cottage night.
Three groups of blazing fire opened the prelude to the performance of "Miao Village Story".
It was completely dark at this time. The blackness of the mountains behind the stage, the blackness of the sky above the courtyard, everything you see is black, the sky and the earth are one, they all become the background of the performance.
This formation was beyond my expectation. Although the thrilling performance of the young man playing with fire just now made me really worried for a while, and although the dressing interaction made everyone very happy, I still can't think of what this small courtyard and small stage can do. Atmospheric performance.
But right now, there is no stage or courtyard in this darkness. All there is is an unpredictable mirage-like scenery. I never thought that this small Miao village and courtyard could create such a wonderful dreamy scene.
This courtyard is really small, no different from an ordinary farmyard. It is close to the Miaowang Village and is shaped like a dustpan. It has wooden buildings, brick and stone houses, and common farm utensils. The difference is that it has stands and a stage. The grandstand has a shed and a wooden building immediately behind it. There are wooden seats inside and the steps are fixed, so it is not afraid of wind and rain. There are also seats in the courtyard, even more than in the shed. The low benches of the same color are also arranged in steps. Those who are tall and have long legs may frown. However, it was close to the stage and the weather was good, neither wind nor rain, so there were more people sitting there. The wooden buildings on both sides are lower than the wooden buildings behind the stands, and they can be regarded as the sides of the dustpan. Directly in front is the stage, which has a layered feel, like an unfolded scroll. There is a shed on the top, a wooden frame on the edge, shaped like an ox horn, and a silver collar-like ornament hanging in the middle, which has a quite ethnic flavor. The stage is gray and blends seamlessly with the bluestone floor in the courtyard.
It is said that this Miao Village Museum was built by the people. There is not much decoration. Everything is displayed as it is. After walking around the Miao Wang Village, I think this is quite true. Really, because it is indeed the case. Although it was just a fleeting glance, I still remembered the low or tall wooden and stone houses and watchtowers, the lush green vines growing on the walls, and the randomly placed farm equipment. Miaowang Village remembers the decline and desolation of ordinary people in the village during the farming era. I even felt like I had traveled back in time for a moment, so much so that when the old man who said that the store was about to close suddenly appeared, I was shocked when I finally left.
A long table banquet is nothing more than that. There was a large shed, two rows of long tables, a row of tile bowls, a few bamboo rice baskets and hot pots, and a few home-cooked dishes. Everyone sat casually, ate casually, wiped their mouths, and dispersed casually. This feeling is not unfamiliar to me. A farm banquet is just like this, simple, but still friendly.
I think this so-called "Miao Village Story" performance is probably just like this.
But I was obviously wrong.
A few dogs barked, a few streaks of white smoke rolled by, a few pieces of red mist floated in, the blue background light and shadow changed, and a gloomy wind seemed to rise out of thin air.
A voice then sounded. The sound seemed to come from the sky, sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes long and sometimes short, somewhere between rap and rap. I can't say that it is old, but it is quite vicissitudes of life. Is it an old man talking alone, or is it an oracle from heaven? Is it to sit by the fire, or to hide in the dark night sky? It should be spoken in Miao language, but to me, it is no different from the language of birds. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. There are subtitles and the characters are big enough. Although I am short-sighted, it is not difficult to read it if I take it seriously and concentrate.
This is a narration, which tells that a long time ago, the descendants of Chi You and the ancestors of the Miao people climbed mountains and waded from the Central Plains to Xiangxi. Since then, they have opened up a unique humanistic world. Witchcraft is the traditional folk culture and ancient religious belief of the Miao people in western Hunan. It can predict good and bad luck, eliminate evil spirits, cure diseases and remove poisons. The Miao people in western Hunan have worshiped the God of Heaven and Earth since ancient times and live in peace with all living things in nature. Witchcraft culture has a long history. Because the area is closed, it has created a unique folk culture. Its mystery has left many unsolved mysteries to the world.
Although we are both from Hunan and Chu, I am as ignorant as I am. I know almost nothing about the Miao people in western Hunan. The only bit of recognition I have comes from Song Zuying and her heavenly folk songs. Apart from this, I'm afraid there are only those horror dramas based on Xiangxi, such as witchcraft, corpse extermination, and falling into holes. It seems that when Xiangxi is mentioned, these mysterious legends cannot be avoided.
The stage clearly has only gray walls and nothing on it, but there is no stage at the moment. Instead, it looks like a transparent dye vat standing on one side, with the red, blue, and white spreading out. Intense and weird. A group of black shadows slowly moved to the center of the stage like a ghost. The blue dispersed and the red lit up. A long roar broke through the air, and a dormant figure stood up from the black shadow with its arms dancing. He was dressed in a wizard's attire, rang the bell in his hand like a heavenly master, and muttered something, and his voice penetrated all directions. Is this going to call for wind and rain? Is this the legendary King Guai protector? Is this bell the so-called soul-catching bell?
As the wizard shouted to mobilize his troops, white smoke rose, and the light and shadow expanded with the people. Dozens of similarly dressed mages filed out of the darkness on the stage, divided into two columns. They walked in an arc, and finally stood majestically in a square formation. As the wizard performs magic on the altar, light and shadow are scattered, and mysterious symbols fly out like birds and frightened bees. A row of mage trays stood in front of them, and the rest of the people prostrated themselves on the ground. White mist rose from the stage, and everyone kowtowed three times and stood up.
The light and shadow change, the music sounds, coaxing, coaxing, coaxing, hands dancing, feet jumping, as if a little devil is cheering, and the breath of witchcraft is blowing towards the face, making people shudder.
Then the shadow of the witch suddenly disappeared, replaced by the darkness of the night and a pair of Miao grandparents under the bright light. They were seen accompanying each other, sitting in their own courtyard, smoking and spinning. The picture was warm and romantic.
Soon, the warmth disappeared and the splendor suddenly appeared. Under the big tree that covers all sides, a man squatted on the ground and struck stones to make fire. Then many people came out of the darkness one after another to strike stones to make fire. For a moment, sparks were flying on the stage, crackling and making sounds, and the light and shadow changed like lightning. Two more groups of people filed in from the side, gathered together in a circle, and stood holding hands. The dark light recedes, and the bright light rises again. The peaks stand steeply, the bull's head is on the high altar, drums and waist drums are erected, and they are arrayed to attack. The song sounded, the drums responded, the drumsticks waved, and the drums beat. The dance of the drum is full of vitality, rhythm and beauty. That fire-like enthusiasm, fire-like wildness, fire-like power, I think, no matter how stagnant the heart is, I am afraid it will be knocked into agitation.
The voice falls with the person, the painting style changes suddenly, and the couple reappears. The man steps on the wooden hammer, the woman stirs with the long spoon, the husband sings and the wife follows, and they cooperate in a tacit understanding.
In the Miao family courtyard, there are rows of wine jars, high wooden stoves, and men holding sticks to stir vigorously, which is rough and bold. The daughter comes lively, flies onto the stove, wipes the father's sweat, is gentle and sweet. The daughter is coquettish and wants to help, while the father teaches with a smile. When the wine was ready, my daughter took it and drank secretly. When my father discovered it, he quietly approached and snatched it away. He was so happy that he sat on the ground and drank happily. The daughter walked around behind her, waiting for an opportunity to grab the wine bowl. When the bowl was empty, she went to pick up the wine. The loving father and daughter are overflowing with happiness. Every smile and every move is exaggerated but natural.
A shout was heard, and the light and shadow changed again, and the Miao village appeared. On the road at the entrance of the village, under a big tree, a group of Miao girls were sitting on bamboo baskets, with their hands lowered and their eyebrows lowered, as if in deep thought. Then they suddenly stood up and waved frequently, as if to greet their sweethearts. Drink - wine - the desolate voice sounded again, the voice shouted thousands of times and lingered for a long time. After a while, the women hugged the baskets and retreated. A line of men walked onto the stage with wine jars in their arms. The altar may be on the waist, on the shoulders, or in the arms; the steps may be circuitous, steady, or deep. The music started, the songs started, and the dances started. One cup, one cup, one cup; coax, coax, coax; drink, drink, drink. The wine was drunk boldly and happily, bringing out the willfulness and wildness of the elder brother of the Miao family. Every move of his hand and every move of his body showed the roughness and wildness of a man. Maybe he drank too much, or drank enough, and his steps were a little staggering. The brothers put down the wine jar, stood still, raised their hands in the air, and shouted loudly, and the woman responded. Men and women sing to each other, singing and dancing at the same time. The woman is coquettish and "both happy and worried", the man is happy and has "watery eyes"... Is this the sideshow of the Miao people in western Hunan? Is this the love song between Miao men and women? The song was bold, straightforward and subtle; the dance was wild, charming and powerful. Singing and dancing, men and women mix, the music becomes cheerful, and the emotions become excited. My eyes crossed the stage and looked at the frame-like darkness behind the mountain. I seemed to see something leaping up and rushing directly into the darkness of the night.
There was no room for distraction, a hearty voice rose, and the Miao family compound was in front of him again. The man from the Miao family greeted him warmly, "You are our friends when you come to our Miao family. To express my feelings, bring me wine!" This voice was wild and powerful, resounding in all directions. The brothers responded with cheers, and the sisters moved the tables quickly. The man jumped up to the table, holding a big bowl in his hand, and sang along with the elder brothers: It’s Chinese New Year, drink; when married, drink; when happy, drink; when upset, drink; when friends are in tears, drink; when friends come, drink; when friends leave Now, drink; before the show, drink; after the show, drink... Hey, drink. This shout is full of rhythm and motivation. "Hey, brothers, I, Long Dashan, only have this daughter. If whoever wins, I will marry my daughter to him," the man said excitedly and promised in public. A crab has eight legs and a shell as big as two eyes. Drink, drink, drink. Everyone played guessing games and made orders, and the scene was very lively. Brothers, when we, the Miao family, drink, we would rather hurt our bodies than our emotions. I drank too much and got drunk. Good wine. The man shouted loudly, and all the brothers responded. The song expressed enthusiasm and pride: good wine, good wine, take a walk around the Miao village and eat - drink, drink, drink - one cup, one cup, good wine, good wine - drunk, poured! On and off the stage, actors and audiences interacted with each other in friendship, pouring wine and drinking. What does that wine taste like? You must be drunk!
Movement and then silence, the figures dispersed. In the courtyard of the Miao village, grinding mills to make tofu. Grandpa grinds the mill and grandma puts the beans. The life of the Miao family is so peaceful.
A voice sounded in the darkness, still like a bird singing, and still had to use subtitles: I saw a Miao girl today. She is really beautiful. Do you want to be friends with you? Oh my god, you are really beautiful. I want to hang out with you. We can go on a date in the cave at night. I will tell you stories and we can chat and talk about feelings together. Okay? The Miao people in western Hunan have always liked to use folk songs to convey their love. Dating lovers use folk songs to communicate and show off their talents. In the pure nature, my brother likes to blow leaves to attract the nearby sisters.
The scenery changes with the sound, the willows are green and the peach is red, the stream is gurgling, the brother and sister are in love, running around and having fun. Flowers in the mountains and fields are in full bloom, and men and women line up to sing in antipathy. My sister is in a blue dress and a short skirt, with a dancing green umbrella; my brother has a black cloth bun on his head and is wearing a short jacket. The mountain road is winding and the new moon is in the sky.
The elder brother came to the downstairs of A-mei and blew the whistle mischievously; A-mei appeared at the top of the building and responded charmingly.
Reappearance of subtitles on the field: Going on the sidelines is a unique folk custom and culture of love for the Miao people in western Hunan. The Phoenix Miao people have advocated freedom of love since ancient times. Go to the market during the day to find someone you like. If both parties like each other, they will meet in a cave for a date at night, or go to a straw pile near the village for a tryst. The pictures are beautiful, the music is affectionate, and the performances are warm, recreating beautiful love scenes. The narration started again, affectionately and tactfully: From now on, we will live better and better, our life will become more and more perfect, and our relationship will become happier and happier.
Don’t hear the words of matchmakers, don’t see arranged marriages, freedom is beautiful, and happiness lasts forever. No wonder the tour guide is proud: Our Miao ethnic group has the lowest divorce rate.
The gongs and drums sounded, and the music was cheerful. The subtitles of the side building jumped out: We are going to be the bride and groom!
The girls in silver clothes swayed their waists and sang about their happiness; the brothers in prince costumes showed off their heroic spirit. Men and women mixed, singing and dancing. The bride in the red cloak and the groom in the blue cloak walked out side by side, worshiping heaven and earth, worshiping their parents, the couple bowed to each other, raised their red hijabs, and looked at each other affectionately. The women sang and danced, and the men walked with dignity.
The elders of the newcomers also walked out one after another and bowed to express their thanks.
The drama ends with a long lasting charm.
The bonfire was blazing, and the host and guest held hands and danced together.
The small courtyard was boiling.