A Dance drama called "Boat Song on the Ussuri" greeted audiences on Monday in Beijing. The drama is a classic legend of the Hezhe ethnic group from China's northern Heilongjiang Province. The Hezhe people not only have a long tradition of ballad singing, but are also known for fashioning beautiful clothes out of fish skin.
A Dance drama called "Boat Song on the Ussuri" greeted audiences on Monday in Beijing.
A Dance drama called "Boat Song on the Ussuri" greeted audiences on Monday in Beijing.
A story of the Hezhe ethnic group told through dance drama and the first of its kind in the country.
The Hezhe ethnic group are nomadic people who live in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Storytelling and ballad singing have been favorite pastimes for these people. Some of the longer epic ballads can last for days on end, as age-old heroic tales are told and sung.
"This drama mainly centers around a young Hezhe couple and through their story, we could get a glimpse into the fascinating cultures of the Hezhe people," said Wang Ju, director of "Boat Song on The Ussuri".
Apart from ballad singing, the Hezhe people are also known for fashioning intricate costumes out of fish skin. Catfish bones and collars make great buttons and decorations.
And the process of fabricating cloth out of fish skin is even more fascinating.
First, the intact skin of a silver carp or chub is removed and dried. Then, the scales are eliminated and the skin is hammered down with a wooden mallet to make it as soft as possible.
Then the fish skin is sewn together with silver carp skin threads and made into clothes.
And these ancient patterns and designs have given inspiration for young fashion designers.
"I'm very much inspired by the fish skin clothing of the Hezhe people especially the design of the collars and the sleeves. And I could apply that method to my clothing, and it looks quite unique," said Wang Yanjie, fashion designer.
For the past few years, the Hezhe people have also been trying to develop other fish-skin products, from accesories to furnitures, so that their unique culture can live on.
