Legendary Xinjiang

Author: Li Chuanzhu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This is a photographic and textual record of Xinjiang's culture. The author, with the keen insight of a journalist, the perspective of a scholar, and the carefree spirit of a traveler, documents Xinjiang's main ethnic groups and folk customs. Through a unique photographic lens, he freezes these moments into stunning images, exquisitely beautiful. The text in the book is as as Xinjiang's earth—simple yet enduringly fragrant, narrating profound ethnological content in a graceful manner.
The "Red" (Hedai) is a game object twisted from a belt, headscarf, or other cotton fabric, resembling a whip. The winner is the one who grabs it. The game begins when one person carries the Hedai on a plate onto the field. Either the plate carrier invites someone to join or the crowd nominates a participant. Within the rules of the game, they start competing to snatch the Hedai. The plate carrier tries to strike the back of the person snatching the Hedai with the Hedai. If the Hedai is raised successfully and strikes the snatcher's back, the game continues. If the Hedai is raised but misses, it is considered snatched, and the plate carrier is defeated and exits the field. The winner then invites or has the crowd recommend another person to start the next round. This cycle repeats until everyone is thoroughly entertained.
The game of snatching the Hedai is lively and intense. If girls cheer on the sidelines, the boys become even more excited, competing fiercely, showcasing their strength and wit, determined to prove their superiority to win the girls' admiration. If snatching the Hedai is the "martial performance" in the M?xīlāpū, then offering tea and reciting couplets can be considered its "literary performance."
Half a bowl of water is poured into each of two small tea cups, placed in one hand, and then rotated out from under the armpit. After singing a song or reciting a couplet, the cups are passed to another person. The recipient must also hold the cups in their hand and rotate them out from under the armpit, singing a song or reciting a couplet. In the activity, if water spills from the cups or the couplets don't match, the person is penalized. The penalty involves singing, reciting couplets, or juggling the cups until the crowd applauds or cheers with satisfaction.
There are also humorous stunts, such as "roasting buns," "taking photos," and "marrying two wives."
"Roasting buns" involves treating the punished person as a tandoor (clay oven). The punisher mimics the entire process of roasting buns, such as swaying the punished person's head from side to side to represent sifting flour, or twisting them randomly to represent the buns being baked. Of course, punishment is not pleasant, but the punished person must not get angry. If they do, they will face ridicule and condemnation from the crowd.
"Taking photos" involves removing the punished person's outerwear, having them stand with arms outstretched and hands flat against the wall, and the punisher spraying water around them. The punished person then leaves, leaving a "ghost" on the wall for the crowd to mock. This penalty is often used when it's colder, to emphasize its purpose.
"Marrying two wives" is a special penalty for those who are particularly friendly with women during the M?xīlāpū. Two young men lie on the punished person, each grabbing one of their ears and pulling them in opposite directions, as if two jealous wives are fighting. The punished person is humiliated and left in a hilarious, helpless situation—laughing or crying but unable to get angry, making the onlookers roar with laughter.
Farmers' paintings are a new art form that emerged in the 1970s. They are found in Uyghur-populated counties and towns across Xinjiang, with the highest artistic quality coming from Mégaiti and Hami farmers' paintings. Mégaiti farmers' paintings are particularly distinctive and renowned both domestically and internationally. The artistic characteristics of Mégaiti farmers' paintings are: rustic and naive, with a strong sense of originality. In terms of expression, the colors are bold and vibrant, with strong contrasts.