The folk dance of the Yi people is often inseparable from the singing and instruments performances. One kind of folk dance is originated from productive labor, such as Qiaozi dance, Baogu dance and carpet dance. Most of them simulate labor actions and show production processes. The other kind is danced in festivals or weddings such as the Guo ZHuang dance, Du Huo dance, pair-foot dance, carpet dance and reed dance. Some dances demonstrate the diligent farming and joy of harvest; some demonstrate the bravery of conquest and the pursuit of love. The branches of Yunnan Yi Ethnics are very complex and their music have own characteristics. The “four-tune” (Haicai tune, yam tune, Wushan tune, and four tune) spread in the Honghe area is a multi-piece music set that is popular among the local people and are mostly used by men and women in the events like “huocao tobacco eating”. Its lyrics are Chinese, with long words and complex structure and diversified singing skills, which is also very rare among our folk songs. Among them, Haicai tune is featured of long history, melodious sound and unique singing style, and enjoys a good reputation both at home and abroad. In 2006, it was in the state-level non-material cultural heritage protection list. The folk songs of Guizhou’s Yi people have various performance forms and regional features. They are often divided into two categories, singing on the mountain and singing at home according to the classification by scale. The former mainly includes “Qu Gu” in antiphonal singing or solo on song festivals, and “Shacha” that sang in Chinese. The latter includes “Ma Nuo” and “Cuo Guo Pu” and “Lu Guo Pu” sang by the bridesmaids for standing in the way in weddings, "Lu Wai” for congratulations to each other, “Qu Jie” and other songs for wedding and sang before the marry, as well as other songs like the funeral song "Ken He", and “Zou Gu” that tells folktales and historical myths and legends.
