Guardians of a vanishing song

Collective dedication

Pan is not alone in this effort. Across Congjiang, dedicated cultural workers and fellow singers share her mission.

Wu Wenqian, 56, the vice-president of the Dong ethnology research society in Congjiang, has spent three decades collecting and preserving songs.

"Culture is the collective artistic achievement of a community, shaped and created over thousands of years. It is the result of shared experiences, traditions and values passed down through generations. Therefore, ethnic culture is not something easily obtained; it is precious and hardwon," he says.

Dongzu dage stretches back more than 2,500 years, and these songs embody the deep cultural heritage and wisdom of the Dong people, Wu says.

He and his team travel from village to village to visit the elders. If there are lyrics they don't understand, they ask the elders to explain them, then translate the lyrics so that more people can understand them.