Yanhe Dance of Yi Minority

Honghe Hani and Yi Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

The Yanhe dance is a traditional folk dance of the Nisupo tribe of the Yi people, and is popular among the villages of the Yi ethnic group in Honghe Hani and Yi Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture. The dance formed during the Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911).

The local Yi people enjoy dancing to the rhythm of fingers beating the yanhe (literally 'tobacco boxes') with both hands. The dance, performed by groups of two people or more, derives its movements from daily activities and from imitating animals.

The dance is divided into zhengxian and zaxian styles. The zhengxian style only uses the dance movements, while the zaxian style incorporates both music and dance. There are more than 100 Yanhe dance steps. Animal and insect mating rituals are vividly imitated in the dance, displaying man and animal's basic instinct. Some of the movements are based on working in the fields, and others are based on other daily activities. The local Yi people love the dance, and have a saying that whenever one hears the sound of the Yanhe, one can't help but dance.