Ru
EnA. Krylova, Zhang Chen
Song lyrics of Nüshu
The article is devoted to the study of lyric songs within the context of the unique women’s script and cultural tradition of Nüshu, which originated in ancient China. These songs are considered a key component of a cultural practice that provided emotional support, opportunities for self-expression, and the preservation of a collective identity for women within patriarchal society. The study identifies and analyzes the sociocultural functions, thematic content, and poetic and musical characteristics of Nüshu song traditions as a form of verbal-musical communication. Particular attention is paid to the typology of songs and the rituals associated with them. The article demonstrates how autobiographical and narrative songs recorded personal experiences and reinterpreted classical stories from a female perspective, while ritual practices structured important life transitions and fostered a sense of collective emotional resonance. It is argued that Nüshu songs were not merely a form of everyday folklore but rather a deliberate instrument for creating an alternative cultural space and symbolic system. This conclusion is supported by an analysis of song forms: seven-character verses were used for improvisation and extended narratives within rituals, while five-character verses served to express friendship and good wishes in a concise form on material carriers. The phenomenon of Nüshu song culture is situated within a broader context, ranging from the social conditions that gave rise to women’s script and the practice of laotong (“sworn sisterhood”) to contemporary governmental and media initiatives aimed at preserving this cultural heritage. Reference to the documentary film “Hidden Letters” (2022) reveals the enduring relevance of Nüshu’s themes – the search for emotional support and female solidarity – in the modern world. The article concludes that Nüshu lyric songs performed a multifaceted communicative and therapeutic functions, constituting an integral part of a holistic female culture whose resilience is rooted in its profound humanistic content.
Key words
Nüshu, women’s script, song folklore, Chinese culture, gender studies, laotong ritual, cultural heritage.
For citation
Krylova A., Zhang Chen. Song lyrics of Nüshu. In: South-Russian Musical Anthology. 2026. No. 2. Pp. 72–79.
