Declarer£º Shanghai City and Taichang City, Jiangsu Province
Sizhu is popular music in Jiangnan, which is in the south of Jiangsu and
Zhejiang Provinces. Si stands for string instrument, including the erhu, pipa, and yangqin. Zhu stands for bamboo instrument, including
the dizi (bamboo flute) and the sheng (reed pipe wind instrument).
During the Jialong period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), Zhang Yetang and other musicians
formed a complete sizhu band. In Wuzhong (the ancient name of Suzhou and neighboring areas), a new kind of music, xiansuo
was formed during late Wanli period of the Ming Dyansty. Xiansuo was the
predecessor of Jiangnan sizhu. It was closely intertwined with local customs and
was well received among the common people. Later, it was officially named
Jiangnan sizhu.