Sacred And Secular: Study The "YeGe" Of Nieshi Town, Linxiang City

"YeGe", also known as "YeGeZhi", is mainly popular in Jingchu areas, singingin the periods of stopping the funeral and keeping vigil beside the coffin，is a form ofFuneral songs with percussion accompaniment and roving form,and a kind ofEtiquette song with a set of sacred ceremonial nature and secular entertainmentcontent. About papers of funeral song, many scholars in China study funeral songmainly from the point of musicology and Literary Studies study from the point offolklore is small. Then, there are not many achievements of Hunan areas funeral songcustom. The papers try to go on groundbreaking research sacred and secular factoringrelationship to YeGe custom in Nieshi town, Linxiang City from the YeGeperformances and text angle by using Fieldwork."YeGe" is a kind hybrid of serious and witty, sadness and joy, the sacred and thesecular. This sacred and secular of "YeGe" customs shows in "YeGe" all aspects,including the singer, text and transitions. The singer is not only a special rolecommunicating human and spirits, but also a local master holding oral literature, folkmusic and historical knowledge. The singer shows this dual identity of the sacred andthe secular when he performances. Then, in daily life and interpersonal activities, itssacred and secular character is also reflected. YeGe text basically can be divided intotwo parts, namely, the sacred and the secular. Those with ritual, listened to God,delivering the souls of the King is a sacred part, and those performative, listened toaudience, entertaining the audience is part of the secular."YeGe" demonstrates itssacred and secular in the production and development process. However, due to thechanging times, YeGe sanctity continues to weaken, while secular constantlystrengthens. First, the significance of singing YeGe----the role of ritual andentertainment is gradually reflected utilitarian instead. Secondly, the singer’s identityhas become a senior intellectuals to master artists. Finally, in the details of theceremony also changed accordingly.The "YeGe" is the sacred and the secular identity of opposites, is the fusion of thesacred and the secular. Because of YeGe with the divine part, it makes the YeGe withother art irreplaceable function, helping to wake the dead, to appease the dead and theexpulsion of ghosts. Meanwhile, because of YeGe with the secular part, it helpsfamily out of the sadness as soon as possible, entertains and educates the public,becoming a folk loved performing arts. The YeGe’s sacred and secular show isconsistent with the beliefs of the people and the real interests of coordination, then balances people’s day-to-day interests and emotional sustenance. The motives behindthe YeGe’s sacred actually is utilitarian, the content is also closely related to people’sdaily lives. Sacred and secular co-existence makes this ancient folk art full of vitality,and spreads so far. Both complement each other, inter-fusion, and just constitute awhole.