Shenhua Town West: Unveiling the Mystery of Xinjiang Han Culture's Veil

Author: Xu Xuecheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: The present name of Zhenxi is "Barkol," located in a valley basin on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in eastern Xinjiang. The area has relatively low temperatures and slightly abundant precipitation. The valley is rich in fertile grasslands, and the mountains are lush with forests. Archaeological excavations have revealed that human activity, along with primitive animal husbandry and agriculture, dates back to the Neolithic Age, approximately 6,700 years ago. Today, Barkol is home to over a dozen ethnic groups, including Han, Kazakh, Uyghur, Mongolian, and Hui, with the Han population accounting for over 70%.
Barkol is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the vast desert beyond further limits its external communication, resulting in relatively impoverished cultural life. Moreover, due to its high-altitude and cold climate, the long winter (lasting up to six months) forces farmers to stay indoors, a practice known as "huddling up." During the long winter nights, relatives and neighbors gather around a fire to engage in "xuan huang."
"Xuan huang" is a form of folk cultural activity that encompasses storytelling, riddle-singing, traditional singing, and casual chatter. Among these, riddle-singing refers to songs that include riddles, while casual chatter involves folk ballads. The residents of Barkol are primarily descendants of people from Shaanxi, Gansu, Hunan, and Shanxi. The folk songs compiled by these mixed communities exhibit strong continuity. A well-loved song, once embraced by the people, is passed down unceasingly not only within the local area but also spreads to other places through migration and movement.
During the early Qing Dynasty, Barkol held significant political and military importance, and Han culture was more developed than in other parts of northern Xinjiang, leading to a convergence of Central Plains culture. As one of the diverse yet unified indigenous cultures of Xinjiang, Han culture has a long history and deep roots. Its folk traditions are profound, colorful, and serve as a valuable repository of intangible cultural heritage, as well as a beautiful field for cultural anthropology research.
The study of intangible cultural heritage demands a spirit of bold exploration and diligent practice. This collection focuses only on a portion of Zhenxi, the town of divine evolution and divine enlightenment, yet it already reveals a folk culture that blends Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, as well as the fusion of ancient and primitive traditions. Here, there are no citations, no repetitions—only the authenticity of academic subjects and the freshness of folk traditions that have grown for thousands of years, along with an aesthetic sentiment that merges science and art.