The Yi Ethnic Minority Edible Seaweed Aria

Shiping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

The Edible Seaweed Aria or the Shiping aria is a ballad specific to the Yi ethnic minoritygroups in Yunnan Province and is mainly popular in the villages of the Nisu people in Shiping County.

The aria was deeply influenced by Han culture in the Ming（1368- 1644）and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties when many Han people immigrated southwest from the Central Plains.

The aria is composed of solo, antiphonal and chorus singing. It is also broken down into the kong, zhenqi and baihua arias. The Edible Seaweed aria is important for the study of Yi history and culture, as well as of the traditional Chinese music system. The Edible Seaweed Aria is passed orally from generation to generation. In modern times, there is a lack of young singers and the aria is in danger of dying out.