The Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC) of the Hakka Affairs Council hosted a Hakka music event on Nov. 9 at the Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park to promote traditional music culture. Focusing on Hakka Bayin (eight notes) music, the event featured performers from Kaohsiung Municipal Meinong Junior High School and Fu-an Elementary School, showcasing the vitality and new voices of Hakka music through the younger generation.

The performance also included the Lin Tso-chang Hakka Bayin Music Troupe, Meinong Hakka Bayin Music Troupe, and Chutoupei Hakka Bayin Music. The event concluded with a collaborative performance by musicians from different generations, symbolizing the transmission and innovation of the Hakka music tradition.

Hakka bayin music is a prominent musical form in the Liughui Hakka community, performed at festivals and rituals, carrying significant cultural meaning. However, as time passes, the tradition has been at risk due to a decline in practitioners. By focusing on the transmission and regeneration of this culture, the event aims to inspire greater appreciation among youth through school clubs and public performances, ensuring the continuation of this traditional art in a new era.

The Hakka Bayin Music Society at Meinong Junior High School, founded in 2006, is one of the first schools in Taiwan to offer Hakka music education. Spearheaded by Huang Shu-mei, who continued to guide students after her retirement, the school also collaborated with local musicians to establish the “Hakka Bayin Music House,” creating a unique co-learning model between the school and community. Students receive weekly lessons from renowned musicians such as Lin Tso-chang, Huang Fu-tien, Hsiao Fu-mei, and Feng Chu-ying, learning traditional instruments like the suona, erhu, and luogu. They also participate in local festivities, immersing themselves in the role of bayin music in traditional rituals. Over the past 18 years, the program has nurtured several musicians who have become passionate advocates of the tradition and fresh voices within the community.

Similarly, the Hakka Eight-tone Music Society at Fu-an Elementary School, also established in 2006, is the first Hakka music ensemble in Kaohsiung made up of elementary school students. Founded and led by Hsieh I-wen, with guidance from national treasure Chung Tsai-hsiang and the Meinong Hakka Bayin Music Troupe, the students systematically study playing techniques and rhythms. Actively participating in local festivals and events, they have demonstrated their enthusiasm and commitment to preserving traditional culture, becoming role models for local music education.

Ho Chin-liang (何金樑), Director-General of the THCDC, noted that in recent years, the Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park has been featuring a variety of events incorporating the Hakka bayin music. The event, as part of the Fall Harvest season, aims to reignite young students’ passion for the traditional music. He hopes the music tradition will reach a wider audience in Taiwan and beyond, entering international venues through education and community support.

The event serves not only as a musical showcase but also as a symbol of the ongoing cultural legacy of Liugdui. When the young musicians play the first note on the suona, the Hakka bayin music marks a new beginning, carrying forward the rhythm and memories of Liugdui. The Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park will continue to host a wide range of activities during the autumn festivities, offering music, food, handicrafts, and cultural experiences to the public, collectively celebrating the sounds of Hakka life.

相關圖片

The Event Guests And Participants Took A Group Photo

The Meinong Hakka Eight Tone Music Troupe Performing At The Event

The Lin Tso Chang Hakka Eight Tone Music Troupe Performing At The Event

The Hakka Eight Tone Music Society At Meinong Junior High School Performing At The Event

The Hakka Eight Tone Music Society At Fu An Elementary School Performing At The Event