Before entering the central primary school of Tanying Manchu Mongolian village, we could hear the deep melodious sound of Morin Khuur. The beautiful melody came from this school’s Morin Khuur class.

As the only Manchu Mongolian minority village, Tanying has introduced ethnic culture into the school by offering special courses like Morin Khuur, wrestling, folk dancing etc. Guo Yongqin, the headmaster of the village primary school introduced that the Morin Khuur course is offered to children every afternoon from Tuesday to Thursday.

From the original 16 students to more than 70 today, the ancient Morin Khuur has found its inheritors in this ethnic primary school. Ao Zihan in grade three was concentrating on playing the Morin Khuur just like a performer. Her father is a Mongolian. “My father says that the Morin Khuur is the symbol of the grassland culture. I am very fond of it.”

“The children are fond of Morin Khuur from the bottom of their hearts,” said Tolgor, the teacher who graduated from Conservatory of Music of Inner Mongolia Normal University. He told the reporter that the meaning of his Mongolian name was pillar. He wanted to be the pillar of the Morin Khuur’s inheritance.

Tolgor had faced difficulties in teaching when he came to Miyun, Beijing, from the grassland. “The biggest problem is that I have never taught so many students at the same time. In Inner Mongolia, one-to-one teaching is more common. How to get the most out of the limited class time is what I keep thinking about,” Tolgor said.

Now, many children are proficient in playing Swan Geese, the Paean, Mongolia Horses, the Jubilant Selenga etc. “Some students still keep learning after graduating from primary school. They practice with students during the vacation,”Tolgor said.

“My biggest wish is to let more students know and enjoy Morin Khuur,” Tolgor said.

This Article was edited and translated from 《琴课传艺》，source：People’s Daily, author: He Yong.