One kind is songs that reflect the northern scenery and nomadic life. The following is the most famous "Song of Chile":
Chilechuan at the foot of Yinshan Mountain. The sky is like the sky, and the cage covers four fields. The sky is wild, and the wind and grass move to see cattle and sheep. Chile Song [note] 1. Chile: Ethnic name, lived in Shuozhou (now the northern part of Shanxi Province) during the Northern Qi Dynasty.
2. Yinshan Mountain: In the north of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
3. Vault: A tent made of felt cloth, that is, a yurt.
4. pale: cyan.
[Brief analysis]
The first two sentences "Chilechuan, under the Yinshan Mountain" show that Chilechuan is located at the foot of the towering Yinshan Mountain, which sets off the grassland background very majestic. Then there are two sentences: "The sky is like a dome, and the cage covers four fields". Zile people use the "dome" in their own lives as a metaphor, saying that the sky is like a felt dome tent, covering all directions of the grassland, so as to describe the magnificent scene of the distant view and the connection between the wild and the wild. This kind of sight can only be seen on the grassland or at sea. The last three sentences, "The sky is grey, the wild land is boundless, the wind and grass are low, and the cattle and sheep are low", are a magnificent and vibrant panorama of the grassland. "When the wind blows grass, you can see cattle and sheep." A gust of wind bends the grass, exposing flocks of cattle and sheep, vividly depicting the scene of rich water and grass and fat cattle and sheep here. There are only twenty words in the whole poem, which shows a magnificent picture of the life of ancient herders in China.
This poem has a clear and generous style unique to the folk songs of the Northern Dynasties, with an open realm, a majestic tone, clear language and strong artistic generalization. Huang Tingjian, a poet in the Song Dynasty, said that the author of this folk song "hastily used strange words to cover up the truth" (The Inscription of the Valley, Volume 7). Because the author is very familiar with the life of grassland herders, he can grasp the characteristics at once without hard engraving, and the artistic effect is very good.
Chileans were a minority tribe in the north at that time. According to some scholars' research, Chilechuan is near Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. The song sings the vast and chaotic scene of the northern prairie, showing an open mind and heroic feelings. The back depicts the prosperity of aquatic plants and animal husbandry, grasps the characteristics and fully embodies people's pride in nature. According to Yuefu Guangti, Gao Huan of the Eastern Wei Dynasty attacked Yu Bi of the Western Wei Dynasty, and his defeat was rapid and his morale was low. Gao Huan asked the Chilean general Hu to sing this song in front of the nobles, so as to stabilize the morale of the army. It can be inferred that it will be fun. The social organization of nomadic people in the north used to be militarized, and martial arts is a consistent tradition. After entering the Central Plains, although the lifestyle and social structure have gradually changed, the national spirit is still brave and strong. Coupled with the Korean War, this is even more exciting. Therefore, in folk songs, there are many praises for the spirit of martial arts.
The first two sentences "Chilechuan, under the Yinshan Mountain" show that Chilechuan is located at the foot of the towering Yinshan Mountain, which sets off the grassland background very majestic. Then there are two sentences: "The sky is like a dome, and the cage covers four fields". Zile people use the "dome" in their own lives as a metaphor, saying that the sky is like a felt dome tent, covering all directions of the grassland, so as to describe the magnificent scene of the distant view and the connection between the wild and the wild. This kind of sight can only be seen on the grassland or at sea. The last three sentences, "The sky is grey, the wild land is boundless, the wind and grass are low, and the cattle and sheep are low", are a magnificent and vibrant panorama of the grassland. "When the wind blows grass, you can see cattle and sheep." A gust of wind bends the grass, exposing flocks of cattle and sheep, vividly depicting the scene of rich water and grass and fat cattle and sheep here. There are only twenty words in the whole poem, which shows a magnificent picture of the life of ancient herders in China. If a man wants to be healthy, he doesn't need much company. Kites fly across the sky, and the flocks wave in two directions. ("Enterprise Metaphor Song")
I bought a new five-foot knife and hung it on the middle beam. Three strokes a day, fifteen women play. ("The King of Langya")
In the previous song, the image of the eagle soaring into the sky and the timid birds hiding to both sides like water waves praised the heroic spirit of a real man who dared to fight against the public alone, which was enough to inspire people. The latter one is more about loving knives than girls, so it has a unique flavor. By the way, I mentioned Song on Longshang in Miscellaneous Ballads. This is a Han song, praising Chen An who died in the battle with Xiongnu Liu Yao. The language is simple and rich in content, and it is also a quite excellent work. "Seven-foot broadsword is like a raging torrent, eight spears swing from side to side, and there is no water flow in ten", which is magnificent; "The water flowing from the west flows into the river from the east. If you don't return it, why not? " Show infinite emotion.
The long-term war has led to people's displacement and even death. Reflecting the sadness of leaving one's hometown, the pain of servitude and submission are also common contents in folk songs. The water in the mountainous area of Gansu is displaced at the foot of the mountain. Thought I was alone and came to the open field. (leading brother word)
Poor man, go out with fear of death. The body was lost in the ground and no one found it. ("Enterprise Metaphor Song")
These two poems are both about sad emotions. The first one is desolate and profound, and the second one laments death in a sarcastic tone. It is lively and generous, and contains complex emotions, but both of them are not in deep sigh and sadness, and always lose their true colors as men. There are also some songs that reflect the poor life of the lower classes, which are rare in the literature of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It's raining cats and dogs, long mouth full and short mouth hungry. (Song of Crowley)
Fast horses are often bitter and thin, and suppressing children is often bitter and poor. The yellow river wins the horse, and the rich rise. ("You Ma Zhou Yin Kege Ci")
These two short songs tell the simple and profound truth in social life in straightforward language. In the previous song, birds were used as metaphors. The "long mouth" said smart and slippery people, and the "short mouth" said honest people. In life, the former always benefits, while the latter is always unlucky. The latter song clearly says: you can't be a decent person without money! There is a natural desire for wealth. There is no truth in the poem, just the inner language of ordinary people. Because of its simplicity, it is particularly profound.
Love songs are the most numerous folk songs in the Northern Dynasties. But compared with Wu Ge and traditional Chinese opera, it is easier to show the difference because of the contrast. Who is the woman who can walk with her back skirt exposed? Born in the same place, men and women are willing to have two adults! ("Catch the Song")
The moon is shining and the stars are falling, so let me know if you want to come! There is a jujube in front of the door. I don't know how old it is. If grandma doesn't marry a girl, will she be hugged by her grandson? ("Folding Yang Liuzhi Music")
I'm unhappy and willing to be a whip. Go in and out of Lang's arms and sit on Lang's knees. (Song of the Willow)
The northern nationalities retain many primitive customs, and the relationship between the sexes is far less complicated than that of the Han nationality. In their view, love between men and women is a very simple matter, and there is nothing to be shy and coy about. "Boys and girls are born in the same place, and they need two adults." This is the simplest and straightforward view of marriage, which is very refreshing. "Lu Gan Le Ge" sings about a tryst. The lovers have not arrived, but there is no sadness. They just criticize each other, which is very different from the emotional appeal in southern folk songs. There are also women who complain that they are not allowed to marry early at home, and they are even more outspoken. Like the song "Folding Yang Liuzhi Song" above, the first two sentences are appropriate to the situation, meaning that every year, the tree will not grow old, but people will grow old easily. Let's not talk about ourselves, but impress each other with the old man's love for his grandson. It's really pure and interesting. Some people even sang: "Old women don't marry, crying for land!" (Land Drive Music Song) This ferocity is beyond the imagination of southerners. In a word, these ballads, which express love and marriage, directly show a warm impulse to life and are worth cherishing. But in northern love songs, some individuals also have a charming style, which may be influenced by southern folk songs. The last song listed above can be seen.
Comparing the northern folk songs with the southern folk songs, it can be roughly summarized as follows: (1) In terms of emotional expression, the northern folk songs are characterized by frankness and roughness, and there are few sentimental feelings like the southern folk songs; In terms of language style, the folk songs of the Northern Dynasties are famous for their simplicity and vigor, and they are not as gorgeous and exquisite as the southern folk songs, not to mention puns and argots. In the form of poetry, five words and four sentences are also dominant, accounting for about 60%. The rest are mostly neat seven-character and four-character poems with few miscellaneous words. But it should be pointed out here that many poems are translated. For example, "Chile Song" and "Yuefu Guangti" say: "Its songs are written in Xianbei language, which is easy to agree with (referring to Chinese)." There is also a sentence in "Folding Willow Songs", "I am a stranger to my family, and I can't understand China children's songs", so I can see that I am not from China. Translation is a kind of re-creation, and its achievements are commendable.