Intangible

I was very proud of myself for being able to read that title of this exhibit:  青海是一个多民族地区 (Qīnghǎi shì yīgè duō mínzú dìqū meaning “Qinghai is a Multi-Ethnic Area”)  And it’s true.  Unlike many provinces which are so overwhelmingly Han, Qinghai definitely has a more multi-culti feel and at a governmental level they seem serious about embracing that.

By far my favorite exhibit at the Qinghai Regional Museum was the one on preserving “intangible” culture from Qinghai’s ethnic minorities.  (So, the style & technique of an art instead of art objects.  Or something ephemeral like a dance or a sport.)

It is often said that great science fiction is actually anthropology.  In fact, anthropologist — and Sinologist — Leon Stover once wrote, “Anthropological science fiction enjoys the philosophical luxury of providing answers to the question ‘What is man?’ while anthropology the science is still learning how to frame it.”

I wrote down the name of every single display in this exhibit.  People I had never heard of, places I’d never heard of, arts and games and sports and ceremones I’d never heard of.  But read all together, they sound like they could well be science fiction.

• Tibetan Tapestry of Jiaya Village of Huangzhong County
• Tibetan Knives of Anchong Town of Yushu Prefecture
• Tibetan Black Pottery of Nangqian County
• Sandy Pottery of Qiaoergou of Datong County
• Traditional Woodcarving of Chenjiatan of Huangzhong County
• Making & Gilding Crafts of Silver/Bronze Ware of Huangzhong County
• The Hua’er Party of Qutan Temple
• The Hua’er Party of Qili Temple
• The Hua’er Party of Tu Nationality in Danma Town
• The Hua’er Party (Folk song concert of Qinghai) of Laoye Mountain
• Colored Mandala of Taxiu Temple of Qinghai
• Fresco of Huangzhong County
• Painting of Huangzhong County
• Mongolian Woodcarving of Haixi Prefecture
• Traycloth Embroidery of Tu Nationality
• Paper-cutting of Hehuang Area
• Regong Art
• King Gesar (Tibetan heroic epic)
• Hanqing Gele (Mongolian heroic epic)
• Shadow Puppet Show of Hehuang Area
• Tibetan Opera on Horseback of Guoluo Prefecture
• Archery in the South Mountain of Ledu County
• Jiaqi — Tibetan Traditional Chess
• Lunziqiu (Rotary swing) of Tu Nationality
• Horse Racing of Yushu Prefecture
• Ancient Games of Quexi Dewa Village of Huangzhong County
• Tibetan Melody of Scriptural Singing
• Tibetan Zhanian (Tibetan traditional plucked instrument) Playing & Singing
• Qinghai Xiaxian (Local Vocal Art)
• Feast Songs of Hui Nationality in Menyuan County
• June Grand Gathering of Regong
• Nadun Festival of Tu Nationality in Minhe County
• Tibetan Opera of Huangnan Prefecture
• Carved Stone of Heri Temple of Zeku County
• Yi Dance in Yushu Prefecture
• Traditional Mongolian Nadam Fair
• Traditional Dance of Tu Nationality in Huzhu County
• Ancient Yangko Dance of Datong County
• Sacrifice Dance of Totemic Frog
• Farming Sacrifice
• Wu Tu Dance (Sacrificial dance) of Tu Nationality in Tongren County
• Mongolian Folk Fire Worship Ceremony
• Dance with a Handcrafted Dragon of Hongshui Town in Ledu County
• Mongolian Sacrifice Ceremony to the Holy Stone-piled Hummock
• The Yellow River Lantern Festival
• Mandela Art Model of Qinghai
• Lake Worship Ceremony by the side of QinghaiI thought the “Shadow Puppet Show of Hehuang Area” display was particularly ingenious.
  You can step to the right and see behind the scenes.
  
  I also found this camel from the “Mongolian Woodcarving of Haixi Prefecture” section kind of adorable.
  But there was something unsettling about this carving (which I think of as “Two Deranged Rabbits Fight Over a Carrot Like It’s the One Ring”.)
  
  Jiaqi, traditional Tibetan chess, intrigued me. But, um, I’ll play “shells.”
  
  This Tibetan stringed instrument seemed fairly average as indigenous stringed instruments go.
  But then I noticed that the soundboard seems to be covered with snake scales.  Actual snake scales.  Which is kind of badass.

  Many of the displays had elaborate dioramas, like this one for “Ancient Games of Quexi Dewa Village of Huangzhong County”…  “Yi Dance in Yushu Prefecture”…
  “Traditional Mongolian Nadam Fair”…The “Mongolian Folk Fire Worship Ceremony” (which, yes, looks like the “fire worm” from The 13th Warrior)…
  And the haunting “Lake Worship Ceremony by the side of Qinghai”…

  But you need to draw the line somewhere.  And I draw the line at this photograph-of-a-photograph of the “Sacrifice Dance of Totemic Frog”.  Some things should be preserved, but others you gotta kill.  Kill it with fire.