Yang said that learning traditional crafts takes time and dedication. Members of a weaving group may spend an entire week learning techniques from skilled women in the village. The skilled women get financial support from the Tufeng Project to teach young students.

"In the village I learned to sing ancient songs from the elders and play musical instruments such as the mouth harp and goat-headed four-stringed instrument," explained Li Zhengfan, another Primi performer from last night's show.

Chen Zhe said that Primi people's cultural heritage dates back to one of the Qiang ethnic minority tribes several centuries ago and had complete laws and clan systems in place.

In 2007 the Tufeng Project held its first Primi special performance to highlight such history with more than 10 Primi young people taking part. Last night's performance once again offered an insight into ancient rituals and celebrations. "Cultural protection should be noticed by the whole society," Chen added.

"Coming out of a Primi village to big cities like Beijing, I work as my hometown's cultural ambassador, promoting my culture and showing people outside the village our cultural uniqueness through performance," Li explained.

Chen said that this is exactly what his Tufeng Project was intended to do.

"Since the Tufeng Project began promoting cultural protection, villagers in Yushichang have also become more aware of their own culture," Yang said.

Primi minority

With a population of about 30,000, Primi is one of the most important branches of the Qiang minority in China, whose name means "white people." The Primis speak a language belonging to the Tibetan-Myanmese language family of the Chinese-Tibetan system. Although Primis once wrote with Tibetan characters, more than 90 percent of Primis now use Chinese characters.

Other ethnic minorities whose endangered cultures are supported by the Tufeng Project are the Shui ethnic minority, famous for its Shuishu writing and laws, the Wa ethnic minority, famous for its wooden drum dance and the Jino ethnic minority whose customs come from their matriarchal society.

(Global Times August 11, 2009)