Strolling through the quiet alleys of Shitang village, your eyes are drawn to the beautifully-crafted Hui-style architecture. Then you notice something unusual – many households here leave their front doors open. 

Taking that as some sort of invitation, I enter, to see a group of men clattering tiles on a wooden table. It looks a bit like a game of dominoes. And they don’t seem to mind me wandering in. The game goes on, while I make my way to the next courtyard house, just a few doors down.

The next thing to grab my attention is the sound of singing. I follow the music, and find myself inside another gray-tiled, white-walled structure, where I see a group of Hakka women, dressed uniformly in traditional clothing. 

I ask them what they’re singing, since I cannot understand a word of it. They tell me the song dates from the Tang Dynasty, and originated with an unhappy court lady by the name of Yue Jie, who would sing about her sadness. A man who heard her was so moved that he risked his life to help her escape from the palace. She made her way to Shitang, where the so-called “Yue Jie” songs were adopted by the village women.

Over time, the lyrics came to focus on the subjects of family values and morality. In a way, it’s these ladies’ way of teaching the younger generation about life.  These songs may only be sung by the village women. Still today, it’s considered a mother’s duty to teach her daughter how to sing. 

I find it fascinating, how a legend about one woman can influence the lives of so many others. And it’s remarkable, too, that even in a world filled with advanced technology and impressive gadgets, there’s still a place for ancient wisdom, conveyed through ballads. These strong-minded ladies, I’m sure, will continue to make Yue Jie proud.