Genre and Subject Matter Characteristics of Zuoquan Folk Songs from the Perspective of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Zuoquan folk songs, renowned as a prominent example of Shanxi folk songs and Chinese traditional folk songs, possess a distinct and self-contained nature. Notably, the Zuoquan “Flowering Tune” stands as one of the earliest folk arts to be included in China’s national intangible cultural heritage list. Additionally, the “Small Flowers Opera” within Zuoquan folk songs was incorporated into the fourth batch of national intangible cultural heritage in 2014. This research explores the style, structure, gestures, and themes of Zuoquan folk songs through the lens of intangible cultural heritage, providing valuable insights into this cherished aspect of China’s national intangible cultural heritage.