Chaozhou String Music

Sizhu (literally “silk and bamboo”) is a refined Chinese chamber tradition for string (silk) and wind (bamboo) instruments. It is typically performed in intimate settings such as teahouses and music clubs, featuring small ensembles that share a single core melody while each player ornaments it in their own way (heterophony). The repertoire is organized around cyclical, beat-patterned frameworks (ban) and named melodic models (qupai), and favors pentatonic modes with elegant, flowing ornamentation. Regional streams exist (most famously Jiangnan sizhu around Shanghai and Suzhou, and related southern styles), but all emphasize light timbre, supple rhythm, and social music-making.