Culture Icon of Jiangsu｜The Charm of Intangible Cultural Heritage “Jasmine Flower”
"What a beautiful jasmine flower, what a beautiful jasmine flower, none among all blossoms is more fragrant than her..." This widely beloved folk song from Yangzhou, Jasmine Flower , was officially inscribed on the Jiangsu Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2011. As one of China’s most internationally recognized folk songs, it serves not only as a cultural emblem of Yangzhou, but also as a window through which the world can appreciate Chinese music.
The origins of Jasmine Flower trace back to the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795), deriving from the Yangzhou traditional tune Fresh Flower Melody . According to the Yangzhou Painted Boats Record, opera performers in Yangzhou would often improvise lyrics using this melody. Through over two centuries of oral transmission and adaptation, the song evolved into the widely circulated version we know today. In 1957, musician He Fang conducted systematic fieldwork in Yangzhou and formally documented the piece, thus preserving it in a standardized form.
As an intangible cultural heritage item of Jiangsu, Jasmine Flower holds unique value in three key aspects: First, it exquisitely incorporates the rhythmic beauty of the Yangzhou dialect — for instance, "jasmine" is pronounced “mo li” in the local tongue, harmonizing seamlessly with the melody. Second, its use of the pentatonic scale reflects the aesthetic characteristics of traditional Chinese music. Third, the imagery of "jasmine blossoms" in its lyrics expresses the Yangzhou people's deep yearning for a beautiful life.
In terms of heritage preservation, the city of Yangzhou has implemented a series of innovative measures: The establishment of a Jasmine Flower Folk Song Archive, which includes 32 historical versions； Integration of folk song heritage courses into primary and secondary school curricula to cultivate young inheritors；Regular organization of Jasmine Flower folk song competitions to foster public engagement. In 2019, the creation of the “Jasmine Flower Folk Song Cultural Ecological Protection Zone” marked the beginning of a systematic approach to safeguarding the tradition.
The global dissemination of Jasmine Flower stands as a model example of cultural exchange. In 1926, Italian composer Giacomo Puccini incorporated its melody into the opera Turandot, introducing Western audiences to the charm of Chinese folk music for the first time. The song's melody has since graced major international occasions — including the 1997 Hong Kong Handover Ceremony and the 2008 Beijing Olympics — repeatedly showcasing the distinct allure of Chinese culture to the world. According to incomplete statistics, more than 80 countries have published recordings or scores of Jasmine Flower.
Contemporary artists continue to innovate in their interpretations of the song. In 2018, the Yangzhou Song and Dance Theater premiered a dance poem titled Jasmine Flower at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. In 2022, electronic music producers reimagined the classic melody with modern arrangements, sparking enthusiastic discussions among younger audiences. These creative endeavors breathe new life into this traditional folk song.
From the alleys of Yangzhou to the global stage, from oral transmission to digital dissemination, Jasmine Flower has journeyed through over three centuries of cultural inheritance. It is not only a stellar example of Jiangsu’s efforts in intangible heritage protection, but also a vivid testament to the enduring vitality of Chinese civilization. As a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage expert once said,"Jasmine Flower proves that true tradition never goes out of style — it only becomes timeless through innovation."
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