Xinzhuang Rice-Weeding Folk Songs

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The rice-weeding folk songs of the Xinbang area in Songjiang have a long and rich history. As early as the early Qing Dynasty, the tradition had already taken shape, earning Xinbang the historical reputation as the "Hometown of Field Folk Songs."

In the past, only one season of rice was cultivated in Xinbang. The rice-weeding process, which involved three rounds known as "first pass, middle pass, and third pass", was labor-intensive and time-consuming. Large landowners would often hire over thirty laborers—including temporary, short-term, and long-term workers—to complete the work. During these periods, the long-term laborers would spontaneously form singing groups to perform folk songs while working in the fields.

These rice-weeding songs were traditionally sung exclusively by men. Performances began with one or two singers and later evolved into ensemble singing with ten or more participants, each taking on a role. To relieve fatigue and bring joy to the labor, these singing troupes performed lengthy narrative ballads in the Wu dialect, such as "Sister Zhuang", "Yao the Second Official", "Sister Liu", "Sister Yan", and "Miss Wang." The songs were typically divided into three types: "Sunshine Songs", "Big Head Songs", and "Transplanting Songs."

The lyrics of these songs often revolved around romantic tales. The melodies were bold and expressive, marked by wide leaps and a tendency to end on a climactic note. The rhythm was mostly free-flowing, as performances were held in open fields, requiring the singers to project their voices powerfully. A combination of chest voice and falsetto was commonly used to reach the higher registers.

Rice-weeding folk songs from Xinbang are known for being authentic, fresh, sharp, and earthy. Their lyrics are natural, vivid, easy to remember, and the melodies are touching and beautiful. As a product of local agricultural life, these songs reflect the emotions, aspirations, and values of the farming community with honesty and charm.

Original Chinese text source:
https://www.ichshanghai.cn/