The weeping songs can be sung by one person or two. If one girl sings, she will cry for her destiny, the deep affection to her relatives and the feudalistic marriage custom she suffers under. When two girls weep together, it is called "sister crying." The bride cries and sings first, and then the other girl will sing together with the bride to console her.
It is said the weeping marriage custom originated from the unconscionable marriage system from the old times. Girls sang and cried denouncing the marriage system, dreaming of freeing themselves from the chains of the system. Even though Tujia girls can now choose their spouse freely, they still cry out of tradition.
Editors: Yang Xin
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