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The "Dance of the Annual Cycle"
Courtesy of Duàn Désān (段德三), Hèqìng County Cultural Centre (鹤庆县文化馆)
Sonaga Yi women sang this song as they danced in a circle at the Běn zhǔ festival. Parts of it include a single caller who sings one line (if you listen hard to the chorus, you'll hear it). Then the whole circle repeats the same line in unison. It is actually sung in Bai language, but in the recording it is being sung by the Sonaga women.

Listen to the Song:

Translation of Song Lyrics:
  1. Chinese: 正月来了鲜又鲜
    English: The first month arrives, continually fresh.

  2. Chinese: 二月来了花也开
    English: The second month arrives, flowers blossom.

    3. Pix
    The Sonaga Yi women dance as they sing.
  3. Chinese: 三月倾听布谷叫
    English: In the third month, listening to rustling grain,

  4. Chinese: 四月秧苗绿荫荫
    English: In the fourth month, rice seedlings are verdant.

  5. Chinese: 五月手拴花丝绳
    English: So to the fifth month, filigree ropes in hand,

  6. Chinese: 六月架起大火把
    English: So to the sixth month, blazing torches¹ raised.

  7. Chinese: 七月种下红萝卜
    English: The seventh month comes, carrots planted,

  8. Chinese: 八月咱们打月饼
    English: The eighth month comes, we make mooncakes².

  9. Chinese: 九月九来九重阳
    English: In the ninth month, mountain climbing festival comes.

  10. Chinese: 十月霜雪压荞杆
    English: In the tenth month, buckwheat stalks laden with snow.

  11. Chinese: 冬月咱过冬至节
    English: So to the eleventh month, we celebrate Winter Solstice,

  12. Chinese: 腊月咱们过大年
    English: So to the final month, we celebrate New Year Festival.


¹Reference to the Yi Torch Festival (火把节).
²Reference to the Mid Autumn Festival (中秋节).