A Study of the Names of Maogusi (Part One)
Maogusi has many names, which fall into two major categories: Tujia-language names and Chinese names. Within these two categories there are many different names, each with its own meaning and cultural character. Section One: The Tujia-language Names of Maogusi. Maogusi was originally named in the Tujia language. The dialogue during performances also...
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Maogusi has many appellations, and these appellations are divided into two major categories, namely: Tujia-language appellations and Chinese appellations. Within these two major categories there are also many different appellations. These appellations each have their own meanings and possess their own cultural characteristics.
Section One: The Tujia-Language Appellations of Maogusi
Maogusi was originally named in the Tujia language. The dialogue during performance is also entirely in Tujia, which is to say that Maogusi can only exist in Tujia-language areas.
Introduction to the Tujia Language The Tujia language has two major dialects. One is the Northern Dialect, mainly spoken in the four counties of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing and Guzhang in Xiangxi. Longshan County currently has 14 townships where Tujia is spoken, among which Pojiao, Tasha, Dianfang and Yanchong are four townships where Tujia is spoken exclusively. The number of Tujia speakers in Longshan County is close to 30,000, making it the county with the largest number of Tujia speakers today. Yongshun County currently has 5 townships where Tujia is spoken, with no exclusively Tujia-speaking townships. Baojing County has 7 townships where Tujia is spoken, with no exclusively Tujia-speaking townships. Guzhang County has two townships where Tujia is spoken, with no exclusively Tujia-speaking townships. The other major dialect is the Southern Dialect, mainly spoken in Xiadu Village, Dapiliu Village and Qieji Village of Tanxi Town, Luxi County, Xiangxi. The population speaking the Southern Dialect of Tujia is close to 1,000. At present, fewer than 40,000 people nationwide speak Tujia.
Basic characteristics of the Tujia language:
1. Phonetics: The Tujia language has 19 consonants and 22 vowels, of which 5 are simple vowels and 22 are compound vowels; Tujia has 4 tones, namely high level, low falling, high falling and high rising, with tone values of 55, 21, 53 and 35 respectively; the tones of Tujia have the function of expressing word meaning.
2. Pronunciation of Tujia: There are no retroflex sounds, very few erhua sounds, no front nasal sounds, and no labiodental sounds. The qi-chi-hu and palatal sounds make up the vast majority, with a small number being velar and back nasal sounds.
3. The types of cultural carriers of the Tujia language include: language communication in daily life, Baishou songs, Maogusi dialogues, Tima sacrificial songs, wedding-lament songs, mountain songs, life terminology, etc.
4. The word order of the Tujia language is an object-predicate structure.
5. Polysemy is very common in the Tujia language.
6. The expression of tense in the Tujia language is very rich.
7. The Tujia language has no numerals, only quantifiers.
8. Adjectives in the Tujia language are very rich, and when adjectives express degree they are not modified by adverbs.
9. The tone values of the Tujia language have a strong semantic significance.
10. Monosyllabic words are very abundant in the Tujia language.
Types of Tujia-language appellations for Maogusi
After understanding the basic situation of the Tujia language, let us now look at the Tujia-language appellations for Maogusi.
In different Tujia mountain villages, the Tujia-language appellations for Maogusi are not the same, and even within the same Tujia mountain village there may be several different Tujia-language appellations for Maogusi. For example, Laotian Village in Longtou Town, Longshan County, Hunan Province, has "Bapa", "Bapagechi" and "Kuqikabu", among others. Another example is Suzhu Village in Pojiao Township, Longshan County, where Maogusi is called both "Chega" and "Bapa". From this it can be seen that it is not surprising that other different Tujia mountain villages have different appellations for Maogusi.
The Tujia-language appellations for Maogusi, summed up, include 13 kinds: Bapa, Bapagechi, Bapani, Bapaha, Kuqikabu, Hecuoniga, Bapu, Bapukari, Chega, Songgachega, Saka, Shijie, Gushigechi, etc.
The above Tujia-language appellations for Maogusi are found respectively in various different Tujia mountain villages. They are respectively:
Those called "Bapa" include: Woba Village in Jiashi Township, Longshan County; Suzhu Village and Shiti Village in Pojiao Township; Laxidong Village in Miao'ertan Town; Laotian Village in Longtou Town, etc.
The Tujia mountain villages that call it "Bapagechi" include: Tutuping Village, Hengzan Village and Yinhe Village (Niulanxi) in Jiashi Township, Longshan County; Posong Village and Shuangping Village in Neixi Township; Xinshuang Village and Shuiba Village in Longtou Town; Baoge Village and Songlin Village (Duosongling) in Pojiao Township; Xindi Village in Tasha Township; Hengzhang Village and Eqie Village in Purong Township, Baojing County, etc.
Those called "Bapani" include: Shanshuping Village and Kaxiehu Village in Longtou Town, Longshan County; Erdong Village, Laozi Creek Village and Zikahu Village in Ganxi Township, etc.
Those called "Bapaha" include: Yishuangfeng Village in Heping Township, Yongshun County; Buzuhu Village, Paitiba Village and Balie Village in Miao'ertan Town, Longshan County.
Those called "Kuqikabu" include: Laotian Village, Caidong Village and Malacha Village in Longtou Town, Longshan County.
Those called "Hecuoniga" include: Hezuo Village and Lifu Village in Mawang Township, Baojing County; Keqie Village in Bamao Township; Natie Village in Datuo Township; Yama Village in Angdong Township; Tubi Village in Longxi Township.
Those called "Bapu" include: Madaping Village and Xiaobai Village in Jiatong Township, Guzhang County; Xiaolong Village in Fuzhi Township, Yongshun County.
Those called "Bapukari" include: Dalongre Village in Duanlong Township, Guzhang County.
Those called "Chega" include: Kake Village and Suzhu Village in Pojiao Township, Longshan County.
Those called "Songgachega" include: Lishehu Village in Changtan Township, Longshan County; Duoni Village in Pojiao Township.
Those called "Saka" include: Xiejia Village in Xihu Township, Longshan County.
Those called "Shijie" include: Zhongxin Village, Kaliu Village, Baixing Village and Yongming Village in Dianfang Township, Longshan County.
Those called "Gushigechi" include: Shacuo Village in Heping Township, Yongshun County; Mailongshan Village, Zege Village and Wudu Village in Mengxi Township, Longshan County; Ganxi Village, Kaize Village and Laomu Village in Xichehe Town.