What is a sizhu?

The term sizhu is a 20th-century term that refers to the folk ensembles that first appeared in the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911/12) dynasties and have continued to the present day.

What is a Jiangnan sizhu?

The Shanghai sizhu became the basis of the modern Chinese orchestra in the mid-20th century. Normally a Jiangnan sizhu ensemble consists of three to seven or eight players.

What is the history of the Shanghai sizhu?

By the early part of the 20th century, Shanghai had become the centre of sizhu activities; the city’s elite organized numerous amateur clubs that played for social functions and for their own entertainment. The Shanghai sizhu became the basis of the modern Chinese orchestra in the mid-20th century.