What are the characteristics of waist drum?

Waist drum is the characteristic of northern Shaanxi.

"Waist drum" is a unique folk large-scale dance art form widely spread in northern Shaanxi, with a history of more than 2,000 years. As the representative of the waist drum in northern Shaanxi, Ansai waist drum is a household name, with the reputation of "the king of drums in China" and "the first drum in the world".

The waist drum was originally used by the ancient army to enhance morale and convey information. According to legend, the border guards guarding the Great Wall in Qin and Han Dynasties used waist drums, swords and bows and arrows as necessary equipment for fighting.

In case of sneak attack, they beat drums for help; When the two armies confront each other, they beat drums to help fight and deter the enemy; Celebrate the victory, and then play the drums for fun. Quite dense drums, strong steps, changing fighting postures and majestic shouts all show the masculine beauty of men.

Ansai waist drum originated from Hengshan Mountain in Yulin. In the late Ming Dynasty, Ansai was sparsely populated due to famine and peasant uprising. Ansai people moved from Hengshan in Yulin and brought Hengshan waist drum to Ansai.

In the long-term evolution process, Ansai waist drum gradually developed from military use into a folk dance integrating dance, martial arts, percussion, percussion and folk songs for people to pray for a bumper harvest and celebrate the Spring Festival.

Classification of Ansai waist drum

Ansai waist drum mostly adopts the form of collective performance, and the number of drummers ranges from dozens to hundreds. The performance emphasizes the overall effect, requiring uniform movements and standardized formation changes. The masculine beauty of men living on the Loess Plateau is fully demonstrated by the drummer's bold and rough dance and powerful drumming skills.

Ansai waist drum can be divided into Wen and Wu according to different styles and rhythms. "Warm waist drum" is relaxed, cheerful, chic and lively, with a small range of movements, similar to the style of yangko; The "martial waist drum" is cheerful, fierce, rough and unrestrained, with excellent kicking and spinning movements, especially the drummer's leap skills, which gives people a feeling of courage and agitation.

At present, the combination of Wen and Wu waist drums has gradually formed a new style, with the most distinctive features of Xihekou Township and Zhenwu Cave in Ansai. They vividly reflect the simple and honest temperament and personality characteristics of local people.