In the village of Xiaoxia in Dongshi Town, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, a traditional folk performance known as Shifan music has flourished for over 200 years, remaining a cherished cultural expression in Jinjiang.
“Shifan music is infused with folk elements, which makes it versatile for various occasions and creates a lively atmosphere,” said Xiao Zhenzuo, a guardian of Minnan Shifan music, in a recent interview. During this year’s Golden Week holiday, he and his students—Cai Yanyu, Cai Weijin, Xu Changqiao, and Xiao Yawen—brought over thirty performers to the “Fujian Citizens’ Grand Stage” to present “Shifan Elegance Celebrating the National Day,” generating an uplifting vibe.
Shifan music employs ten primary instruments, including the pipa, sanxian, erhu, gaohu, dizi, bili, sheng, zhaqin, and banhu, along with a variety of percussion instruments. While its repertoire is rooted in Nanyin (Southern Chinese music), it celebrates the joyful characteristics of folk music.
“The zhaqin is a hallmark instrument of Xiaoxia Shifan. It has ten strings and resembles a small guzheng, but rather than being plucked like a guzheng, it’s played between the palms and upper arms,” explained Cai Yanyu, highlighting how this ancient instrument contributes a soft and enchanting sound to Shifan performances.
When discussing the origins of Xiaoxia Shifan, Xiao Zhenzuo shared an intriguing tale: “During the Qing Dynasty, Xiao Benren and other villagers served in the military and encountered various traditional instruments throughout the country. They longed for home and began to blend these instruments with the local Nanyin style. When they returned, they established the local community group ‘Xiaoxiang Waner Xuan’ to share their newfound skills.”
Preserving folk music isn’t easy, and Shifan music was on the brink of extinction 30 to 40 years ago as younger generations in Xiaoxia prioritized making a living over maintaining the art form. However, Singaporean expatriate Xiao Congming, a passionate admirer of Minnan culture, noticed this decline and returned home to fund instrument purchases and revive “Xiaoxiang Waner Xuan,” thus supporting the continuation of Shifan music.
“Xiao often contributed to the initiative by offering one yuan for each child attending lessons,” Xiao Zhenzuo recalled, smiling at the memory. This amount was significant at the time, attracting many children from the village to learn this art. Xiao Congming frequently attended classes and even joined in on performances with his sheng and xiao.
Coming from a family rich in Shifan tradition, Xiao Zhenzuo began teaching his peers the fundamentals of Shifan music at a young age. At its height, he taught nearly 60 children, many of whom became pivotal members of “Xiaoxiang Waner Xuan.”
Over the years, while many of these students ventured onto different paths, they would return during festivals to perform together, leading to Xiao Zhenzuo’s concerns about the future of Shifan music. Encouraged by local supporters like Xiao Qingqi from the Jinshan Traditional Culture Promotion Association and leaders such as Huang Tianpei from Jinshan Central Primary School, he introduced Shifan music into the school curriculum in 2009.
For the past fifteen years, Xiao Zhenzuo and Cai Yanyu have dedicated themselves to educating successive generations, guiding students from their first exposure to Shifan music to mastering it, even forming ensembles that perform in neighboring cities like Quanzhou and Putian, earning numerous accolades and inspiring other intangible cultural heritage projects to be incorporated into educational institutions.
Xiao Zhenzuo noted that passing on Shifan music faces significant challenges, with a major concern being the lack of qualified instructors. “The unique blend of instruments in Shifan music requires multiple skilled music educators. Right now, it’s just my disciples and a few teachers at the school, which is far from enough. This is a problem nationwide.”
“Nevertheless, I’m optimistic about the future of Shifan music, especially with its introduction in schools,” he asserted. “Over the years, my disciples and I have taught thousands of students the basics of Shifan music, and even if just one percent of them develop a true passion for preserving the tradition, that could mean dozens of future custodians, elevating the art form.”
“The journey has begun, and the dream is within reach,” Xiao Zhenzuo stated as he prepares to establish a Minnan Shifan Training Center. He firmly believes that the commitment he has invested over the years will bear fruit, ensuring that Minnan Shifan music finds a renewed place and direction amidst modernity, thriving for generations to come.