In the life of people of all ethnic groups, folk singing activities occupy a particularly important position, penetrating into almost all areas of life. They sing to tell the mutual love between men and women, to sing to stimulate the labor enthusiasm in the production struggle, to sing to express the mourning for the dead and the blessing of marriage, and to sing to express the joy of the harvest and the joy of festivals.
Yunnan is the province with the largest number of ethnic minorities in China, in the life of the people of all ethnic groups, folk singing activities occupy a particularly important position, almost penetrating into all areas of life. They sing to confide the mutual love between men and women, sing to stimulate the labor enthusiasm in the production struggle, sing to express the mourning of the dead, the blessing of marriage, sing to express the joy of harvest and the joy of festivals.
Particularly those who do not have the written word of the nation, often rely on those who have extensive knowledge, rich experience of the old singer, with a long narrative song, to the national masses and young people to teach the knowledge of history, knowledge of production, knowledge of life and etiquette.
It is said that, before the liberation of the Lisu people "lawsuit" is also singing, the plaintiff, the defendant to sing to complain about their respective reasons, the solution to the people also sing the ruling. Therefore, in many ethnic groups, the child is still learning to speak, but also follow the adults to learn to sing. And a skillful folk singer is often especially honored among his people.