Research on the Academic Inheritance of the Traditional Performance of Hilgasan Khuur

Abstract

Shen Kuo, a scholar in the Northern Song Dynasty, wrote in Mengxi Bi Tan: "The Hilgasan Khuur follows the Han Dynasty, and the music still complains about the Chanyu." This is the earliest record of the term Hilgasan Khuur in history books. Hilgasan Khuur refers to bowed string instruments made of Hilgasan and carried by northern nomadic peoples. It originated from the Xiongnu and has been passed down to this day. The traditional Mongolian bowed string instruments such as the Morin Khuur, Khorchin Choor, Chahar Hiil, and OirdsYekel all belong to this category. As a bowed string instrument that has been passed down for thousands of years and carries a profound historical and cultural heritage, the inheritance and protection of the traditional playing method of the Hilgasan Khuur faces the impact and challenges of the development of modern music. This article summarizes the artistic characteristics of the four tuning methods, four playing methods and related traditional repertoires of the four instruments of the Hilgasan Khuur. By analyzing the history and current situation of the academic inheritance of the Hilgasan Khuur, it reveals the advantages and challenges of the academic inheritance. It emphasizes that under the background of national policies and the protection of intangible cultural heritage, promoting the academic inheritance of the traditional playing method of the Hilgasan Khuur has far-reaching significance for protecting the musical diversity of the Hilgasan Khuur and promoting national traditional culture.