For centuries, Liuhe, close to the rivers and the sea, has been home to masses of fishermen making a living through fishery. In the olden days, fishermen invented work songs to coordinate actions in the course of fishing operations. Fishermen work songs are easy to sing and often have unique local characteristics.

According to operational needs, fishermen work songs are classified for different occasions. There are songs for weighing the anchor, striking soundings, lifting up the sampan, pulling the sail, and hanging up junkets. For instance, when it comes to setting sail, fishermen will sing the song for weighing anchor. When measuring water depth, they sing the song for striking soundings.

Fisher men work songs performed on a stage

Fishermen work songs are plain, loud, sonorous, rough and strong. The lyrics are very brief. They serve both as the “orders” in labor and as a way to vent their emotions.

Fishermen work songs have high historical, musical and spiritual values. The songs represent the scenes of fishermen working at sea in the olden days and allow later generations to understand the fishermen’s lives in non-mechanical times. They also demonstrate how musical forms arise from people’s daily work. The work songs materialize the spirits of unity and cooperation and have positive references to constructing a harmonious society.

As the working conditions have changed, the wood vessels of the old days have been replaced by motor vessels. The environment for singing the work songs no longer exists. Fishermen work songs are at the risk of being lost and need prompt protection.