Pokua
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Pokua (Chinese: 褒歌; pinyin: bāo-gē; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: po-koa), also Tshit-jī-á kua (Chinese: 七字仔歌; lit. 'Song of 7 characters'), is a kind of traditional folk music in Taiwan and Penghu which can be traced from Hokkien peoples that migrated to Taiwan under Qing rule The main themes found in Pokua songs include elements of romance, weather, the environment, festival activities and events of everyday life. Pokua has no fixed process of performance; people are able to sing Pokua with improvised lyrics or rhythms.[1][2][3]
Name
Pokua literally means "Song of Compliment" or "Song of Praise".[2] Besides, there are some people call Pokua as "Tshit-jī-á kua'' based on the form of lyric, the literal meaning is song of 7 characters.[2]
Introduction
Pokua can be defined that a kind of folk songs, as an oral traditional music performance in Taiwan, which was ever popular in the long-term history, especially in commoners.[4][5] The basic form of Pokua, there is usually at least 4 sentences in every single song, then it is composed of 7 Chinese characters in one sentence. Moreover, the last of lyric word that rhyme have the same last sound usually as well. The rule of the numbers of character, sentence or rhyme is not so restrictive, but 7 characters for one sentence and 4 sentences compose for one Pokua is the most common Taiwan folk song style.[5]
Example
| Chinese characters | Taiwanse pronunciation | English translation | Main idea of narration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 天頂出有講百萬 | Thinn-tíng tshut ū kóng pah-bān | There was a million of fortune in the heaven. | Landscape | |
| 地下出有媠牡丹 | Tuē-hā tshut ū suí bóo-tan | There was a beautiful peony on the ground. | Landscape | Peony is king of flower in Chinese culture, it's also the symbol of wealth. |
| 阿娘生媠好人範 | A-niû sinn suí hó lâng-pān | Young lady you are so beautiful, you are our beauty model. | Emotion | |
| 親像仙女來下凡 | Tshin-tshiūnn sian-lú lâi hā-huān | Just like an angel fall down on to the earth. | Emotion |
References
- ^ "褒歌小百科" [Pokua Encyclopedia]. 澎湖褒歌 (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
- ^ a b c "褒歌" [Pokua]. 教育部臺灣閩南語常用詞典 (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
- ^ 張, 茂雄 (2022-11-12). "文化立縣、褒歌傳唱 賴峰偉訪望安人間國寶葉成仁". China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
- ^ 蔡, 蕙如 (2009-10-28). "《臺灣國風》". Encyclopedia of Taiwan (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
- ^ a b "什麼是褒歌" [What is Pokua]. 澎湖褒歌 (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
- ^ "褒歌的形式" [The Form of Pokua]. 澎湖褒歌 (in Chinese (Taiwan)).