Up Close to the Three Types of Drum Dances

Weifeng Drum Dance-the War Drum for Valiant Fighters

As early as over 3,000 years ago, people in what is now Shanxi Province began to play drums. During later times of wars and ethnic migration, the Shanxi drum borrowed and assimilated many artistic and musical expressions from northern and western minorities.

Mostly mountainous, Shanxi was an important military stronghold. Throughout Chinese history, it witnessed frequent battles. In this way, the Shanxi drum is inextricably associated with warfare and has played a role in many important episodes in Shanxi's history.

The origin of the Weifeng Drum dates back to Li Shimin, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Having put down a rebellion in Shanxi, his army celebrated the victory with the playing of the Weifeng Drum.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Weifeng Drum was related to Yang Ye, a Song general who led a northern expedition against the Liao, a contemporary northern minority regime of Song. Treacherous court officials refused to send reinforcements to Yang as his army fought a much bigger Liao army.

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