Chuanjiang Boatmen’s Song in Chongqing重慶川江號子

李靈彧

If one day you come to Wulong， Chongqing， you cant miss the great sight andenjoy the powerful song—Chuanjiang Boatmens Song， one of the national intangiblecultural heritage. It is a traditional folk song about the life and work of the boatmenon the Yangtze River. It also reflects the history， culture， and changes of Chongqing.

The song started in the late 19th century when Chongqing was an importanttrading port along the Yangtze River. The boatmen played an important role intransporting goods between Chongqing and other cities. The song describes thehardships and struggles of the boatmen. They walked barefoot（ 赤腳） on theriverbank with their backs bending for long hours to pull the boats. They workedunder challenging conditions（ 條件）.

The lyrics of the song focused on the boatmens determination（ 決心）， love fortheir hometown， and longing for their families. The melody（ 旋律） was simple yetpowerful. The song became an anthem（ 贊歌） for the boatmen and a symbol of theirunity and hard work.

Today although the busy trading port has disappeared， the song continues tobe valued by locals and serves as a reminder of the citys rich history. It is oftenperformed during festivals and cultural events. The lyrics has changed to reflect therapid development of the city， the spirit of its people， and their hopes for a betterfuture. The melody suits modern tastes while keeping its traditional essence（ 精髓）.

I am proud that Chuanjiang Boatmens Song was protected as national intangiblecultural heritage（ 國家級非物質文化遺產） on May 20， 2006.