Guardians of a vanishing song

"The lyrics of those songs are beautiful, and rich with stories of love, family and life. We don't have our own written script, so these songs are our written culture. If we lose them, it would be a great tragedy," she says.

"If I could write, I would write down all the songs. But I can't, so I teach them by memory. I hope those who learn will carry them forward."

Over her long career, Pan has fought to ensure the tradition survives. She has taught many students in her village and beyond — over 1,000, maybe many more, she says with a smile.

She has also recorded over 500 songs to create an audio archive for the next generation. Since many of Pan's students are children, and because of the complexity of the Grand Song, she cannot teach them the full breadth of the tradition.

"I focus more on simpler children's songs," she says.

"These are easier for the kids to understand and provide them with a foundation. As they get older, they can learn more complex songs."