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Civilization Object No. 013
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Nanyin Music

南音

A living fossil of Tang Dynasty court music, preserved in Fujian's Minnan region with ancient instruments and elegant melodies.

dna Heritage DNA
history Origin

Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE)

category Domain

traditional music

verified Level

UNESCO Intangible Heritage

pin_drop Region

Southeast China

pulse Status

active

person Key Masters
person

Wang Yuanqi

provincial

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Nanyin, meaning "southern sounds," is a living fossil of ancient Chinese music preserved in the Minnan region of Fujian. Its melodies retain characteristics of Tang Dynasty court music and Song Dynasty poetry recitation. Performed with instruments like the pipa, dongxiao (vertical flute), and erxian (two-stringed fiddle), Nanyin is known for its gentle, elegant melodies and strict performance etiquette.

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Relationship Constellation

This heritage item connects to 9 entities across the atlas — masters, places, festivals, and stories.

person Wang Yuanqi inheritor pin_drop Quanzhou location pin_drop Fujian Province location person Guqin and Its Music ich person Tang Dynasty dynasty person Southeast Coast region person Han Chinese ethnic-group person Xi'an Wind and Percussion Ensemble ich person Pipa (Chinese Lute) ich
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