Happy as Flower Booming

”"The red peony shines brightly; the white peony is pure and delicate. There is someone by the side of the old horse, and it's me accompanying the song."

Recently, while visiting Ma Laixiang's home in Sishe, Dazhuang Village, Majiabao Town, Hezheng County, we saw him and his wife, Tian Yuxiu, in their own garden. They were watering the flowers with deep affection, while singing a duet of Huaer song.

Ma Laixiang, 71, was born into a poor peasant family. Influenced by the surrounding environment, he has been interested in Huaer since he was a teenager.

In 1969, Tian Yuxiu, who was only 17 years old, married Ma Laixiang. At that time, Tian's family had a large population and owned a lot of land. They also raised cattle and sheep. The household chores and farming were mainly taken care of by Tian Yuxiu, who at one point, believed that Ma was not focused on his responsibilities and even considered divorcing him. However, as the years passed, influenced by her husband, she gradually developed an interest in Huaer. She became his most loyal fan and started learning to sing Huaer together with him. Now, they live happily every day.

In 2006, the "Songmingyan Huaer Festival" was approved by the State Council and was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list. This means that Huaer, the small, neglected flower, has finally gained recognition from the government and have entered the realm of refined culture. As a result, Ma Laixiang and Tian Yuxiu openly embarked on their journey of singing Huaer.

Every year, from the 26th to the 28th day of the fourth lunar month, Hezheng County holds its annual Huaer Festival. During this time, Huaer enthusiasts from Qinghai, Xinjiang, and surrounding counties and cities in Linxia gather at Songmingyan to exchange their knowledge and skills in Huaer while enjoying friendship through songs. Ma and his wife also travel from their hometown to join other singers, sharing their singing techniques and engaging in discussions about Huaer.

Together with other Huaer singers, they compose lyrics that are easy to understand and full of positive energy, expressing gratitude for the good policies of the Party and the government, celebrating the happiness and beautiful new life, and praising their love that blossoms and lasts long, just like "flowers."

In 2020, the Hezheng County Huaer Artists Association was established, and Ma and his wife were invited to become members. On regular occasions, the couple performs together on stage, receiving praise from the audience. Over the years, while persisting in singing Huaer, they have actively participated in activities organized by the County Literary Federation, such as "Huaer in Scenic Areas," "Huaer in Schools," and "Culture Outreach to Villages," contributing to theance and promotion of Huaer art.

With their hard work, they have achieved fruitful results. Today, Ma Laixiang serves as a director of the Hezheng County Huaer Artists Association and has been honored by the Provincial Bureau of Culture and Tourism as a "State-level Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor" of the Songmingyan Huaer Festival.

”The head of the Hezheng County Huaer Artists Association said, "Ma Laixiang and Tian Yuxiu are the oldest Huaer singers in the association. It can be said that their entire lives have been dedicated to following the path of Huaer, and their happiness is brought by Huaer. The Songmingyan Huaer Festival needs singers like them to carry on the tradition."

"I have loved Huaer my whole life, and I have been singing them my whole life. In the future, I hope to continue the betterance of Hezheng's Huaer art through my own efforts." Ma said this at the end of the interview.