Being an inalienable part of China, a unitary multi-ethnic country, Tibetan ethnic culture is a shining pearl of Chinese culture and a valuable treasure to the world. Over a long historical period, the Tibetans created a rich and diversified culture with distinct characteristics, which not only include a large number of tangible cultural heritage, but a more comprehensive intangible cultural heritage in the forms of language and literature, opera and music, painting and sculpting, etc.
Duixie performances originated in the 13th century and are still popular throughout Tibet. Almost every family has a six-stringed instrument hanging in their home. The instrument is also called Zha Nian, which means instrument that can play melodious music, in Tibetan language. Bian Duo is a famous musician who plays this instrument. He tells a beautiful fairytale about it.
For hundreds of years, Dui Xie was just a way for Tibetan people to entertain themselves. In order to protect and promote their art form, some local farmers from Lhaste County in the southwest Tibet Autonomous Region set up a performing troupe in 2005.
In 2008, the troupe was invited to perform in the national Spring Festival Gala on TV. Audiences throughout the country were amazed by the charm of Duixie singing and dancing.
To further vitalize the art the troupe realized that they had to do more than just perform their traditional programs. Driven by the thought, the playwright Tashi Wangla created a new play describing the lives of local farmers. Now Duixie is on the list of the country's intangible cultural heritage items, receiving annual subsidies from the government.
At present, there are a total of 60 state-level intangible cultural heritage items in Tibet, as well as people who are making the passing on of those heritages life time pursuit.
Before the reform, the folk artists were of viewed as inferior and led very poor lives. Now in order to protect their art, Tibet focus on nominating artists as heirs to the intangible cultural heritage and help them recruit more students. When the artists feel respected, they are more enthusiastic about reviving their culture.
By now, there are more than 50 institutes of Tibetan study in China. More than 2,000 researchers have devoted themselves to the protection of local cultural treasures. Their efforts have also drawn overseas attention. Decades ago, before the establishment of Tibet Autonomous Region, not much academic work had been done on the study of Tibet.
Meanwhile, more and more performing groups have also emerged to help revive local folk songs and dances. There are more than 500 amateur art troupes set up by local residents. They give frequent performances in different villages and cities, which are welcomed by the public.
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