Li Ethnic Nose Flute

Li Ethnic Nose Flute

　　The nose flute is one of the ancient musical instruments beloved by the Li ethnic group in Hainan. It is made from white bamboo, a specialty of the Wuzhishan area. The flute tube is about 60 centimeters long, with a small round hole at each end and another small round hole about 10 centimeters from each end, totaling four small holes. These allow the instrument to produce seven musical notes. To suit playing by breathing through the nose, the flute body is very slender, with a diameter of only about 1 centimeter. The nose flute has a fine tone quality and produces uniquely beautiful melodies. There is also a tear-jerking love story behind the origin of the nose flute.

　　 　　Legend has it that long ago, a young Li couple fell in love at the foot of Wuzhi Mountain. Just before their wedding, the girl went to pick betel nuts in a betel nut garden but was spotted by the local chieftain, who captured her and forced her to marry him. When she refused, she was locked up. The young man searched for ten days and nights and finally found her hidden in a small cave deep in the forest. Unable to meet, the young man sang to express his feelings. When the chieftain found out, he had the young man arrested, cut off his tongue, and exiled him to a remote mountain forest. A month later, the young man reappeared near the cave. He cut a piece of white bamboo and played his pain and longing through the nose flute. The girl understood his message and was deeply moved. Later, the young man was captured by the chieftain and executed. Before his death, he asked someone to pass the nose flute on to the girl. Soon after, the girl escaped and knelt in front of the young man’s grave, heartbroken, playing the tune he used to play on the nose flute. Then, she embraced the nose flute and passed away at the foot of his tomb. Since then, the nose flute has been passed down from generation to generation.