On August 9th, the melodious music of Hulusi (a musical instrument of the Dai ethnic group in China, made from gourd) including Tian Mi Mi (Very sweet) and Hu Shi (Marriage Vows) reverberated at China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka. The students were performing for the closing ceremony of the training camp and most players of Hulusi were from Sri Lanka.
Around one month ago, more than 3000 people came to sigh up for the Hulusi course within 5 days when announcing the holding of first Hulusi training course in China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka. Twenty of them were finally enrolled according to the rule of “first come, first served”.
Tang Ruilin, a teacher from Hubei Vocational College of Art, made a brief introduction of Hulusi’s history and its basic techniques of playing. Moreover, she also performed the famous songs of Beautiful Golden Peafowls and Bambusa Multiplex under the Moonlight. Her performances not only reminded the students of a golden peacock presenting its back as well as fancy landscapes of night, nut also aroused a keen interest of learning Hulusi.
The teachers were teaching the students heartily while the students were also preoccupied with the class. The reporter noticed that only a seven-year-old girl Ternumi was fully involved in the class. She told the reporter that she likes China very much and wants to learn Chinese.
“Ternumi is the most hardworking one in the class with fast progress.”Tang praised. In the closing ceremony, Ternumi run to the stage and said she appreciated Tang’s patience in the class where she had a new experience of music and determined her goal of going to China.
Wijeratne and Saliv, two sophomores in Chinese language from the University of Kelaniya, were always sticking to each other in the class. “We are both studying Chinese. It is necessary to know more about Chinese culture when mastering Chinese. Therefore, Hulusi will help a lot in improving our Chinese.” they said.
The Hulusi has became a bond to broadcast Chinese culture, which is also the original purpose of setting up training course. Le Liwen, director of China Culture Center, said that the folk music is one of important part of Chinese culture. This training course will help local residents deepening their understanding of Chinese culture through various arts.
It was an unique experience for her to teach foreigners Chinese instruments in a foreign country. At the same time, she felt happy to witness the progress made by the students who have already mastered basic techniques of playing, and was touched by their passion for Chinese culture as well.
Tang said that Hulusi is easily accessible to people among other traditional Chinese instruments. “We have established relations with students in the class to facilitate them when needed in the future. After all, they will help more Sri Lanka people know Chinese culture.” she added.