PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

This article reviews music research on Dong pipa songs, a musical genre performed by the Dong people, one of the 55 ethnic minorities of the People’s Republic of China. It analyses 46 English and Chinese articles published between 2006 and 2023, following the recognition of the Dong pipa song as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of China. Literature reviews demonstrate that the existing research is categorised into six main areas: historical origins, musical characteristics, accompanying instruments, lyrics features, social functions, and cultural inheritance and preservation. The systematic literature review revealed limitations in the research on these songs, including the depiction of their musical elements through the lens of Western musical systems, the homogenisation of diverse regional styles, and the lack of human agency in examining musical development. This article highlights existing research gaps and suggests directions for future investigations.