Fujian ICH: Folk songs of She ethnic group

The folk songs of She ethnic group, known as "Ge Yan" in the She community, which literally means “using songs as a form of expression”, are an art form developed by the She people over a long period of time.

They were included in the traditional music category on the first representative list of national-level intangible cultural heritage items in 2006.

They are mainly prevalent in the She inhabited areas of Lianjiang and Luoyuan in the cities of Ningde and Fuzhou in Fujian province, as well as in Lishui, Jingning, Cangnan, and other She ethnic settlements in Zhejiang province.

There are four types of songs under the Ge Yan umbrella: narrative songs, novel songs, traditional mountain songs, and modern Ge Yan. Narrative songs focus on ethnic history and social events. Novel songs focus on historical figures or artistically fictional characters. Traditional mountain songs cover a wide range of topics and are mostly improvised on the spot, with representative genres including songs of lament, labor songs, ceremonial songs, and children's songs. Modern Ge Yan mostly revolves around revolutionary themes, like "1934 Revolution Song".

She ethnic mountain songs are performed a capella as solo pieces and includes three types of singing: head voice, chest voice, and a combination of both. The She people esteem head voice and believe that skillfully using a combination of head voice and chest voice is what makes a good singer.

The elderly teach songs to the young with the aim of passing down this tradition. Singing during wedding ceremonies, funerals, ancestor worship, and shamanic rituals is a way to communicate with spirits and display reverence. All contain elements of storytelling to varying degrees.