Youshui boatman's songs refer to the songs sung by boatmen on the Youshui River. They are most popular in the section of the river between the upper and lower reaches of the Youshui River in Baojing County, Hunan Province. Compared with other areas, the Youshui boatman's songs here are the oldest and most complete in content. Youshui boatman's songs are divided into oar songs, paddle songs, fiber songs, unloading songs, etc. There are more than 50 types of songs with different tunes and rhythms. The contents reflected are divided into historical legends, waterway segment descriptions, and customs and life, which are interspersed and blended with each other. It is listed in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage in China. The Youshui River originates in the northwest of Hefeng, Hubei Province, and meanders through Longshan County, Baojing County, Guzhang County, Yongshun County and other counties in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, and merges into the Yuanshui River. It is the birthplace of Xiangxi indigenous culture and the main channel for Xiangxi to exchange materials and civilization with the outside world before the 1960s. Wooden boats, rowed and pulled by human power, continuously transported local products such as tung oil, gallnut, animal skins, and medicinal materials from western Hunan, and brought back kerosene, salt, cloth, and daily necessities from the downstream ports. During the long days of sailing, the boatmen worked together to overcome the difficulties of nature, to eliminate the depression in their hearts, and to adjust their lives. Over time, they gradually created unique songs closely related to water labor, which had a strong regional and musical texture and were mixed with shouting. [1] As the most simple folk song genre, it can command labor because the boatmen unified the rhythm of their movements when shouting, and inspired everyone's emotions during the singing, which can relieve the boatmen's fatigue and improve the efficiency of sailing. The Tujia Youshui boatman's song is a form of folk singing that coordinates the boatmen's work movements, unifies the rhythm, and mobilizes their work mood. The content of the singing includes the Tujia people's cultural history, geographical features, religious beliefs, production and life, love, and philosophy of life. Youshui boatman's songs can be divided into sailing songs, loading and unloading songs, and leisure songs according to their melody and rhythm. That is, one person leads the singing and the others accompany. The oar songs have a melodious and high-pitched tune, with a relatively complete and smooth melody. They are usually sung on the calm river. The oar songs are mostly improvised by boatmen, using satire, exaggeration, metaphor and other techniques to describe the local customs and folkways on both sides of Youshui and lament the hardships of life. They are not very melodic. Shore songs include the tow song that boatmen sing when they encounter rapids and shoals and go ashore to pull the towline. The loading and unloading songs are songs that boatmen sing to encourage each other when loading and unloading goods when the ship is docked at the pier. Leisure songs include some Tujia folk songs and ditties that boatmen sing when the ship docks at night, or when they relax at the bow of the boat, or when they go ashore or go to the teahouse. [3] Youshui boatmen’s songs are classified into different types according to their purpose, such as “oar songs”, “rafting songs”, “paddle songs”, “urgent songs” and “slow songs”. Sometimes a song has a multi-part structure. When the boat is sailing fast, the songs are fierce and urgent; on flat water, the songs are slow and melodious; at ordinary times, boatmen like to sing some sentences with a sense of life. Such songs are lyrical and funny, reflecting the boatmen’s daily life and their joys and sorrows. The lyrics of Youshui songs vary in length, but the sentences are neat and rhyme from beginning to end. In the singing, “one person starts and everyone joins in”, with the lead singer alternating with the chorus. Among Youshui songs, “oar songs” and “paddle songs” are the most distinctive. The lyrics sung by the lead singer of “oar songs” are like commands, which play the role of directing and coordinating the rhythm of work. Other boatmen often sing along with some supporting words and shouts. The lyrics of "oar horns" are mostly improvised by boatmen. They use exaggeration, satire, metaphor and other techniques to describe the scenery and customs of the remote banks of the Youshui River, as well as their own miserable lives.