The Role of Han Ethnic Music in Shaping Cultural Identity: A Case Study of Shanghe, Jinan, Shandong Province
Abstract
through an ethnographic approach. Data were collected via participant observation, in-depth interviews (23 participants), focus group discussions, and audio-visual documentation during July–September 2025. Key findings reveal that Shanghe’s Han folk music operates as a dynamic medium: it embeds in ritual cycles (e.g., Spring Festival, Qingming) to preserve collective memory, articulates distinct sonic geographies
(temple courtyards, homes, cemeteries) that structure social belonging, and reflects gendered and generational roles in cultural transmission.
While local institutions promote Han music as “intangible cultural heritage,” this process creates tensions between ritual authenticity and
staged performance. The study contributes to ethnomusicology by addressing gaps in region-specific research on Han music, highlighting its
role in negotiating local and national cultural identities amid modernization.
Keywords
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18686/hef.v4i2.14239
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