Literature Review on Dong Pipa Songs: Evidence From CNKI

Based on nearly sixty publications indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), this study systematically reviews the research progress on Dong pipa songs. Scholarship on this musical form can be divided into three stages: the preliminary exploratory phase (1950s–1970s), the developmental phase (1980s–2005), and the flourishing phase following its inscription on China’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. Current research clusters into five main domains: overviews and general introductions, studies of musical style, analyses of social function, examinations of lyric features, and investigations into transmission and safeguarding. Methodologically, the field has shifted from descriptive, single-disciplinary accounts toward interdisciplinary approaches that draw on ethnomusicology, linguistics, sociology, communication studies, and heritage research. Nonetheless, limitations remain, including insufficient cross-disciplinary integration, limited comparative perspective, reliance on Western analytical frameworks, and a shortage of first-hand field data. Future directions call for deeper interdisciplinary collaboration, greater use of indigenous theoretical frameworks, enhanced fieldwork documentation, and the integration of educational and digital platforms into safeguarding strategies. Overall, sustained scholarly attention to Dong pipa songs not only contributes to the protection of intangible cultural heritage but also reinforces cultural diversity and ethnic identity.