Year：2006

Sort：Folk Music

Area：ShanghaiandJiangsu Province

Serial No.：Ⅱ-40

Declarer： Shanghai City and Taichang City, Jiangsu Province

Sizhu is popular music in Jiangnan, which is in the south of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. Si stands for string instrument, including theerhu,pipa, and yangqin. Zhu stands for bamboo instrument, including thedizi(bamboo flute) and the sheng (reed pipe wind instrument).

During the Jialong period of theMing Dynasty(1368-1644 AD), Zhang Yetang and other musicians formed a complete sizhu band. In Wuzhong (the ancient name ofSuzhouand neighboring areas), a new kind of music, xiansuo was formed during late Wanli period of the Ming Dyansty. Xiansuo was the predecessor of Jiangnan sizhu. It was closely intertwined with local customs and was well received among the common people. Later, it was officially named Jiangnan sizhu.