FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL MUSICAL DRAMA OF CHUICHUI-QIANG IN THE REGION OF DALI OF YUNNAN PROVINCE

China, as well as Russia, is a multinational country, where each nation has its own unique history and culture. Preserving cultural identity of smaller nations is often problematic due to the phenomenon of assimilation. Therefore, in the overinformed 21st century, the survival and popularization of various species of smaller nations’ art is a great achievement in terms of preservation of a multinational country’s cultural richness. This article is devoted to the history of development of the musical and theatrical art of Chuichui-Qiang  of the minor people of Bai , living in the South-Western part of China in the county of Dali of Yunnan province. It is noted that, genetically, the drama of Chuichui-Qiang originates from the drama of Yuan dynasty of the 13th—14th centuries, la­ter influenced by such varieties of opera as Siqin-Qiang  and Si-Diao. The article reflects distinctive, individual features of the genre, as well as more ge­neral characteristics of the Chinese musical drama (opera), which are also embodied in Chuichui-Qiang. The author justifies the conclusion that the presence in Chuichui-Qiang of the things inherent to all Chinese, such as love for a clear regulation of procedural action, ceremonial etiquette, use of certain traditional symbols, is determined by the interpe­netration of cultures in the course of historical development. At the same time, this genre has its own unique characte­ristics, which are also reflected in the work. This research can be useful for the audience, interested in the multinational culture of China, and for those who consider the issue of preservation of original kinds of smaller nations’ art in China, as well as in Russia, to be important.

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