Blind Strings

This story is inspired by Liangzhou Xianxiao, one of the first national-level intangible cultural heritage traditions. Also known as Liangzhou Admonitions, Liangzhou Xianxiao is an ancient folk art of singing and storytelling found mainly in the Liangzhou region. Its songs often praise loyal ministers, valiant generals, and dutiful sons and daughters, extolling the values of “loyalty to one’s country and filial piety at home” and the ideal of being both loyal and filial. The lyrics are passed down orally from master to apprentice, with few written records. Performers usually sing while accompanying themselves on a sanxian lute, sometimes adding instruments such as the erhu, flute, wooden fish, or clappers. The art is rich in traditional culture, with profound subject matter and a distinctive form. The folk performers who earn a living singing Liangzhou Xianxiao are mostly blind, and are known as “blind string players.” In the old society, these blind artists sang on the streets, urging people to do good and enlightening the public. People believed they possessed a mysterious power, so the people of Liangzhou respectfully called them “blind immortals.” Yet they remained at the bottom of society, struggling to survive with lives considered as worthless as grass. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Liangzhou Xianxiao was respected and protected, and many new songs praising the country were created. As the times have changed, the audience for Liangzhou Xianxiao has grown increasingly elderly, while young people have shown little interest. The tradition now faces a crisis of inheritance. A new generation of young people is actively carrying on this intangible cultural heritage. They are creating Liangzhou Xianxiao songs that celebrate the new era, protecting the tradition with digital technology, developing it through new forms of artistic expression, and building a cultural tourism industry. Their efforts are breathing new life into this ancient art and turning it into a new calling card for Liangzhou culture.