When Xi Murong was a professor of fine arts in Taiwan Province Province, there was an archaeological history bookstore near the school. She is a layman in archaeology, and she has never been back to the Mongolian Plateau at that time, but for a while, every time she went to the bookstore, she found that the book she bought was related to Mongolian archaeology in Otawa.
"Just because it is the culture of my parents' hometown, it will make me feel more at ease after buying it back. "
From 1989 to now, endless wandering on the grassland has made her happy, but it is also accompanied by sadness and regret.
Apart from the environment, what saddens her most is the gradual confusion of values and the demise of traditional rituals. She firmly believes: "Every culture has its own values."
In 2006, the Nadam Convention was held in Xilinhot, and various literary and art groups from the Yellow River valley performed gongs and drums. "But they dance some dances that have nothing to do with Mongolian culture."
Nadam means fun club, and now Han You also likes to participate. Xi Murong said that this should certainly be welcomed. But Nadam has its own rituals. From beginning to end, it is a very old rule passed down from generation to generation, such as wrestling, archery and horse racing. "Why did you invite the circus and acrobatic troupe?" Xi Murong felt very sad.
"It's no longer like Nadam. After two generations, perhaps no one can tell what a real nomadic culture is. "
After signing the book in Beijing this time, Xi Murong will leave for Ejina and Alashan in Inner Mongolia soon. For her, the Mongolian plateau will never end. There is really too much fresh knowledge in it, and the attraction of nomadic culture is too strong.
She clearly remembers that when her father traveled with her in Europe before his death, he said it was too boring. He didn't like things blocking his sight. At that time, Xi Murong had not been to the Mongolian Plateau. "I think Europe is so big and the scenery is so beautiful. How can it be boring? " I don't understand. Can a mountain so far stop you? "
It was not until he returned to the Mongolian Plateau that Xi Murong knew what nothing was before him.
On the first day back to my hometown, I saw a herdsman riding from the distant grassland. "He is dressed in blue, so far away, I can see the light of the yellow belt around his waist, just like the tip of a needle shining in the sun. In fact, I am nearsighted, but I can see clearly on the grassland. "
"oh! My god, I understand how my father feels. " At this time, Xi Murong deeply understood his father.
"This is a memory passed down from generation to generation." Xi Murong told the reporter of Youth Weekend.
Youth Weekend: But can't we add some fresh elements to traditional culture?
Xi Murong: Japan has been completely westernized since the Meiji Restoration, but some of their ceremonies in national festivals have not changed since the Tang Dynasty. When you throw these things away, you have nothing to do with the memory of your ancestors.
Youth weekend: can cultures blend with each other?
Xi Murong: I mean, some things can be merged, but some things must be kept in the ancient style of courtesy. Otherwise, what is inheritance? Han compatriots came to Nadam, of course, with no malice. We are friends, but objectively, some rituals in primitive Mongolian culture have been destroyed. This is something that can't be helped.
I also know that living water is the source of spring water, but when a large amount of living water flows into or even drowns the spring water, that culture disappears. Culture itself must be different. We often say that the world is the same, but when there is only one culture left in the world, in the eyes of anthropologists, culture is dead.