Hengchun Folk Song Museum Introduction
Hengchun folk songs originated from the grassroots and are a type of music that captures the richness of cultural heritage, reflecting life experiences, historical backgrounds, and local characteristics. To preserve this intangible cultural asset from fading away, the Pingtung County Government established the Hengchun Folk Music Museum next to the old dormitory of Hengchun Hospital in 2009. The museum displays the sheet music and instruments for seven tunes: "Thoughts Arise," "Four Seasons Spring," "Cowherd's Tune," "Pingpu Melody," "Five Hole Melody," "Fenggang Melody," and "Mother Cow's Accompaniment," aiming to lay the foundation for the development of Hengchun folk songs. Hengchun folk songs originated from unintentional occurrences. Initially, they were sung by a group of outsiders who came to Hengchun for land reclamation. Longing for their hometown relatives, they would hum songs that might have been heard in their hometowns or made up on their own. Due to the catchy melodies that were easy to remember and sing, these songs gradually spread to places like Hengchun, Manzhou, Fenggang, and Checheng. Characterized by their strong local flavor, they became known as "Hengchun folk songs." From a music research perspective, folk songs are usually classified based on melodic characteristics, origins, and distribution areas. The seven tunes displayed at the Hengchun Folk Music Museum are traditional folk songs from the Hengchun area. Although the "Cowherd's Tune" is primarily popular in Manzhou, it was included in Hengchun folk songs because both Manzhou during the Qing Dynasty and Japanese rule belonged to Hengchun. After the end of Japanese rule, when Hengchun and Manzhou were divided into two administrative districts, it was renamed Manzhou folk songs. Visiting the Hengchun Folk Music Museum provides a comprehensive insight into the historical culture and everyday life of early Hengchun. Among Hengchun folk songs, the most representative tune is "Thoughts Arise," with the most famous singer being Chen Da. With a deep and emotional voice, Chen Da profoundly expressed the nostalgia of a wanderer in a foreign land. Despite living a life of poverty, his love for singing never waned, sparking a folk song trend in the Hengchun area. After Chen Da's passing, his former residence was transformed into a memorial hall, realistically portraying his simple living environment while introducing his life story and contributions to Hengchun folk songs.
