Lingering Echoes - Heritage and Innovation of Nanyin

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

First talk "Nanyin Appreciation: Heritage and Innovation in the Culture of Narrative Singing"(held on 28 June 2025)

Speaker: Professor Yuen Siu-fai (maestro of Cantonese opera)

Venue:  1/F Theatre, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Language: Cantonese

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 20^th century, and explore recent innovative efforts 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.

Recording of the lecture: here

Second talk "Canton Music Legacy in Hong Kong: Nanyin, Banyan and Yueou by blind musicians Dou Wun and Lee Ngan-Kiu" (held on 12 July 2025)

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)

Venue: 1/F Theatre, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Language: Cantonese

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.

Recording of the lecture: here

Love for Ma Tei – Nanyin Concert (held on 30 August 2025 )

Performers: Professor YUEN Siu-fai, Miss LEUNG Hoi-li, Mr. LIANG Zhenwen

Venue: 1/F Theatre, Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Language: Cantonese

Introduction: Yung Shue Tau, Tin Hau Temple, Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei Theatre and the distinctive Hong Kong-style teahouses in Yau Ma Tei encapsulate the collective memories of many Hong Kong residents. In the early 20^th century, Yau Ma Tei, then known as Ma Tei, was a Chinese settlement. By the 1960s and 1970s, it had evolved into a vibrant district bustling with diverse shops and frequented by opera artists who performed in public spaces such as teahouses and on the streets. Nanyin, known for its straight forward lyrics and simple accompaniment, became a popular form of entertainment during this time. Over the years, many iconic nanyin performers had performed in Yau Ma Tei, solidifying its status in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong.

In 1911, Kwong Wah Hospital was established in Yau Ma Tei as the first hospital in Kowloon and the New Territories. It has since provided Chinese and western medical services to the community. The Tung Wah Museum, originally the Main Hall Building of Kwong Wah Hospital, resides in the hospital’s courtyard. In 1970, when the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals celebrated its centenary, this building was converted into the Tung Wah Museum to preserve the group’s archives and cultural relics. Recognised for its historical and architectural significance, Tung Wah Museum was declared a monument in 2010. This year we celebrate the 155^th anniversary of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the 55^th anniversary of Tung Wah Museum. In honour of these milestones, we have invited Professor Yuen Siu-fai, maestro of Cantonese Opera, to compose new lyrics dedicated to Tung Wah. He will perform alongside promising young nanyin artist, offering a profound reflections on the people and sentiments of Yau Ma Tei through nanyin, a traditional form of narrative singing, and savour the Tung Wah story of Hong Kong sung in Cantonese nanyin as we enjoy the beautiful music.