Nanyin is central to the culture of the people of Minnan in southern Fujian Province along China’s southeastern coast.
Thousands of years ago,
immigrants from Central China came here,
bringing with them their music culture, which later developed into Nanyin.
The complete set of distinctive musical instruments used in Nanyin has been established for over 1000 years ,
including plucked instruments such as Pipa and Sanxian , as well as midrange Suona and drums.
For instance, the Pipa is played horizontally,
just like the elegant Flying Apsaras painted in the Dunhuang Grotto es.
Nanyin comprises three forms: instrumental, instrumental with vocals,
and ballads accompanied by an ensemble.
Some of them capture the beauty of the natural world;
whereas others preserve ancient poems and folklore.
Nanyin performances were depicted in ancient Chinese paintings.
For instance, in this 1000-year-old painting which vividly represents an evening banquet hosted by the Southern Tang Minister Han Xizai,
the host and guests were listening to the Nanyin music.
Like “pearls tumbling onto a jade tray”,
the unique and delicate tonality of the Pipa has been appreciated by the Chinese people for thousands of years.
Spreading from its birthplace Quanzhou ,
Nanyin has become well-received overseas, especially in Southeast Asia.
In 2009,
it was inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
责任编辑：【吉翔】
