Seeking a Kindred Spirit - Hsinchu Nanguan Artifacts Exhibition / Chin-ch'ang-ho Matsu and Narcissus Artifacts Hall

Seeking a Kindred Spirit - Hsinchu Nanguan Artifacts Exhibition
Unchanged Hometown Accent
From the late Qing Dynasty to the early Japanese colonial period, descendants of immigrants from Ch'uan-chou accounted for over 80% of the residents of Chuchien City. Even today, the Ch'uan-chou accent, which retains T'ung-an characteristics, can still be heard in the streets of Hsinchu City.
　　 With the settlement of immigrants and the growth of their descendants, the traditional music originally from Ch'uan-chou and Amoy - "Nanguan" - also spread and was sung inside and outside Chuchien City. If the "Peikuan," which uses the Hu-kuang "Mandarin" dialect and has a powerful,激昂 sound, is like a father encouraging the people of Chien City to strive hard; then the "Nanguan," which retains the Ch'uan-chou "hometown accent" and has soft,婉轉 melodies, is like a mother comforting and relieving the stress of those far from home. Both tunes were once the theme songs of Chuchien City.
　　 In addition to the existing "Splendor of Hsin-yo-hsuan" Peikuan Artifacts Exhibition Hall, this museum has specially set up a "Hsinchu Nanguan Artifacts" special exhibition area. The exhibition's title keyword, "Kindred Spirit," is taken from the ink writings of the late Chuchien worthy Lin Chan-mei (style name Hsueh-ts'un), who was fond of ancient music. This is used to lead visitors to seek out the Ch'uan-chou accent and Nanguan melodies of Chuchien.