Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun has unveiled a transformative musical theater work celebrating China's Jino ethnic group, blending ancient traditions with contemporary artistry. The Ocean Etched in the Forest, which premiered in Beijing on Sunday, spotlights the cultural resilience of one of China's smallest officially recognized ethnic communities amid modernization challenges.
The Shanghai-born artist spent months immersed in Yunnan Province's Jino communities, collaborating with local cultural inheritors to integrate their iconic big drum dance and ancestral music into the production's core. 'This work is a dialogue between memory and innovation,' Du explained, emphasizing her focus on preserving vanishing cultural practices through modern storytelling.
As the production prepares for its US debut, it offers global audiences a rare window into the Jino people's spiritual connection to nature and their unique musical heritage. The work's cross-cultural appeal positions it as a significant bridge for international understanding of China's diverse ethnic traditions.
