In this little village Keyi, lives the A Xi branch of the Yi people. The Yi people lived about as early as four to five thousand years ago in the northern part of China. Apart from fire, they also worship the color black and the tiger and the left side. That means they think the left side is more honorable than the right side. Among the numerous, much diversified branches of the Yi people, the A Xi branch stands out with its unique traditional dance, Axi tiaoyue, or Axi Dance under the moon. It’s almost a household name in China. It is a merry and happy dance that looks simple yet is difficult to learn. Usually, people dance to it with a particular instrument call Dasanxian, a guitar-like instrument. It’s believed that this kind of dance first originated in Mile here.

Bao Si

Bimo of Keyi Village

Host: Hey, everybody, let me introduce you to a special person in Keyi village. He’s Bi Mo of the village. He’s also got the same surname as me. Liu. His Yi name is Bao Si. Mr. Baosi. of Keyi village. Let’s find out how special he is.

Host: This title, Bi Mo, is it inherited or did you get elected by the villagers?

Bao Si: Na, it’s neither inherited nor elected. I had a teacher and he taught me things. After I’ve learnt everything, people then recognize me as Bi Mo.

Host: What do you do?

Bao Si: I help the Keyi people. The old and young, they come to me for weddings and funerals. I help them do that, as kind of teacher.

Host: Well, seems he carries on the knowledge of the village. He knows history of the people, procedures of weddings and funerals, like kind of wedding planner but much more than that. When people have problems, like medical problem, they all come to him for help. He also takes students to carry on his knowledge about the people.

Host: So how do you teach the students?

Bao Si: I tell him what he needs to learn and he follows me.

Just like their dances and singing, the Yi people can be recognized from their contagious happiness. Their sincerity moves me beyond words and it’s amazing such a short stay could forge such a strong attachment. Perhaps that is charm of traveling—our short union brings about lasting memories.

Editor:Chen