The Hui Jew’s Harp In Ningxia: Musical Characteristics And Cultural Context

Guoxing Xia; Nachaya  Natchanawakul; Ni-on   Tayrattanachai

Authors

Guoxing Xia College of Music, Mahidol University, Thailand
Nachaya Natchanawakul College of Music, Mahidol University, Thailand
Ni-on Tayrattanachai College of Music, Mahidol University, Thailand

Keywords:

Hui Jew’s harp, Kouxian, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ethnomusicology, Musical Characteristics

Abstract

This study examines the musical characteristics of the Hui Jew’s harp (Kouxian) within the cultural context of the Hui ethnic community in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The research aims to analyze the musical characteristics embedded in the craftsmanship of Hui instrument makers, focusing on the relationship between sound production, material selection, and cultural expression. A qualitative ethnomusicological approach was employed, integrating document analysis, fieldwork, participant observation, and unstructured interviews with three key inheritors of the Hui Jew’s harp tradition: Ma Yizhen, An Yuge, and Li Xu. The findings reveal that the Hui Jew’s harp is not merely a musical instrument but a culturally embedded medium of emotional expression and social communication, particularly among Hui women under historical socio-religious constraints. Musical characteristics are closely linked to craftsmanship, where variations in materials such as bamboo and metal directly influence tonal quality, resonance, and performance techniques. The study identifies three distinctive trajectories of musical development: the preservation of traditional sound and techniques (Ma Yizhen), the integration of traditional knowledge with systematic innovation (An Yuge), and the modernization of the instrument through scientific and cross-cultural adaptation (Li Xu). Furthermore, the Hui Jew’s harp demonstrates a dynamic process of cultural continuity and transformation, reflecting the concept of “selective integration,” in which traditional Islamic cultural values are maintained while adapting to contemporary musical and social contexts. This research contributes to ethnomusicological scholarship by highlighting the interrelationship between sound, gender, and craftsmanship, and underscores the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage through both traditional knowledge and modern innovation.

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