A Brief Introduction to Xinjiang Arts and Culture
( 2005-09-13 )

Northwest China'sXinjiangUygur Autonomous Region has a rich and time-honored cultural tradition, shaped by a variety of ethnic groups and constituting an important part of the Chinese culture. Throughout history, different ethnic groups have developed their distinct artistic traditions in the vast western part of China, including the Uygurs, Hans, Kazaks, Huis, Kirgizs, Mongols, Tajiks, Xibes, Manchus, Uzbeks, Daurs, Tatars, and Russians. The diversity, openness, and integration of different ethnic cultures have made Xinjiang's culture what it is today.

The ancient name of Xinjiang is Xiyu (the "western regions"). Since time immemorial, many different ethnic groups have been living harmoniously in this area. These hardworking and creative people have contributed to the world-renowned Xiyu Culture, which covers a wide spectrum.

From rich stocks of folk music and dances to the musical masterpiece Twelve Muqam, from the folk epics Manas and Jianggar and the oral literature of Aken to the book Kutadolu Biliq (Blessings and Wisdom) finished in the 11th centuries, and from the Kizil grotto paintings to everyday folk ornaments and architecture, these cultural legacies, with their long traditions, are great treasures of the Chinese nation.

However, before the founding of thePeople's Republic of China, such rich resources were not fully recognized or developed. There were entertainments in royal palaces, courtyards, and side streets, but they were just simple representations of the local existence, not yet possessing the deeper cultural and aesthetic significance that mark refined works of art.

The founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 heralded in a renaissance of arts and culture in Xinjiang. Over the last five decades, the Xinjiang people have continued their rich cultural traditions, and further developed and enriched their distinct multi-ethnic cultures, thus making today's cultural scene in Xinjiang even more exotic and appealing.