TWGHs 155th Anniversary cum Tung Wah Museum 55th Anniversary
“Lingering Echoes- Heritage and Innovation of Nanyin” Activity Series
Jointly presented by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Co-organised by Tung Wah Museum and Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Introduction
Nanyin is a form of narrative singing presented in Cantonese. Since the early 20th century, nanyin has
evolved and gained popularity in Hong Kong, becoming a beloved form of mass entertainment. Many of the
early singers were blind, and their lyrics often depicted the challenges faced by the ordinary people in their
daily life. These works provide valuable insights into the social landscape of Hong Kong across various
periods. Nanyin offers much more than mere entertainment, it embodies significant historical, cultural and
artistic value, and has been included in the inaugural Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Hong Kong.
This year marks the 155th anniversary of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the 55th anniversary of Tung
Wah Museum. To celebrate, the Tung Wah Museum has joined hands with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum
to organise a series of nanyin-themed activities, in a bid to preserve and share the essence of this art form,
allowing the public to appreciate its style and understand its historical and cultural significance as well as
its ongoing innovation and transmission through generations.
Talk 1 Nanyin Appreciation: Heritage and Innovation in the Culture of Narrative Singing
Date: 28 June 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 3pm- 5pm
Venue: 1/F Theatre, Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Introduction: Nanyin, a form of Cantonese narrative singing cherished in the Pearl River Delta, boasts a profound cultural heritage. Drawing on the research of Professor Yuen Siu-fai, this lecture delves into the evolution of nanyin from its traditional roots, where blind musicians accompanied by the guzheng performed, to its innovative interpretations that incorporate modern music and art forms. The talk will highlight classic pieces to discuss the integration of nanyin into Cantonese opera in the early 20th century, and explore recent innovative effort to blend nanyin with contemporary music. It will elucidate how nanyin has preserved its distinctive traditional features in Hong Kong while being rejuvenated within contemporary culture, moving from teahouses and taverns to university lecture halls and cultural stages, thereby perpetuating its rich heritage.
Speaker: Professor YUEN Siu-fai (maestro of Cantonese opera)
Talk 2 Canton Music Legacy in Hong Kong: Nanyin, Banyan and Yueou by blind musicians Dou Wun and Lee Ngan-kiu
Date: 12 July 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 3pm- 5pm
Venue: 1/F Theatre, Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Introduction: Many of the nanyin, banyan and yueou songs performed in both historical and contemporary Hong Kong originated from Canton (Guangzhou). . This talk will explore how the imprint of Guangzhou has manifested in Hong Kong’s musical landscape and how the city is depicted in works from the late Qing dynasty, referencing the banyan song “The Paramours' Squabble” performed by gushi (male blind musician) Dou Wun, “Offerings by Qinglan” delivered in the yueou style by shiniang (female blind musician) Lee Ngan-kiu and other notable pieces, such as “Song of the Exile” and “Ho Wai-kwan Laments from the First till the Fifth Watch of Night”, and lyrics that recount the fire in Dashatou, Guangzhou, which occurred in the first lunar month of the first year of Qing Emperor Xuantong’s reign.
Speaker: Professor Ching May-bo (Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences cum Head and Professor of the Department of Chinese and History, the City University of Hong Kong)
Love for Ma Tei – Nanyin Concert
For more details about the talks and the concert: “Lingering Echoes- Heritage and Innovation of Nanyin” Activity Series
