| dc.description.abstract | In early Taiwanese folk songs and rap works, many focus on describing the pregnancy and childbirth process, specifically celebrating the joys and hardships of maternity. There are short pregnancy songs singing about giving birth in ten months or celebrating the arrival of a child in twelve months, as well as longer ones that depict the practices of ＂sitting the month＂ and completing the first month after childbirth. Short Minnan songs might start with ＂In the first month, peach blossoms bloom＂ and end with ＂In October, predicting the arrival of winter＂ or ＂In December, approaching the year-end.＂ Hakka songs might begin with ＂In January, it′s the New Year＂ and conclude with ＂In December, another year has come.＂ Medium-length songbook-style pregnancy songs not only discuss changes in a pregnant woman′s cravings and the hardships during pregnancy but also include details about childbirth and the postpartum period. Long performance-type pregnancy songs can be as lengthy as 320 lines, covering the entire pregnancy up to the first month after childbirth. These songs represent valuable aspects of Taiwanese folk music.
This article focuses on the research of pregnancy songs related to pregnancy and childbirth, exploring the cultural significance within Hakka and Minnan pregnancy songs. Due to significant changes in contemporary societal environments and healthcare, many customs and cultures have been simplified or altered. However, Hakka and Minnan pregnancy songs, as folk literature, intricately preserve the life rituals, traditional beliefs, cultural ideologies, and dietary practices related to pregnancy and childbirth among the Hakka and Minnan people in Taiwan. Despite their simple narrative style, these songs offer a rich exploration of the cultural heritage surrounding pregnancy and childbirth in Taiwanese Hakka and Minnan communities. | en_US |