Celebrating the Traditions of Southern China’s Ethnic Groups, Part 1 of 2

Originating in Chain’s Spring and Autumn as well as the Waring States periods, the Dong Grand Song is a homophonic, ancient Dong folk chorus without accompaniment. One of its features is the imitation of sounds found in nature. The Dong do not have a written language. Since olden times, their folklore, history and song lyrics have all been passed on through oral transmission. There is a saying among the Dong tribes, “Rice nourishes the body; song nourish the heart.” For the Dong people, songs play a significant role in their lives; it is how they express their hearts and culture.