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Hakka Hill Songs (客家山歌; pinyin: Kejia Shan Ge) are probably one of the better known elements of Hakka culture.
They vary in theme from love to personal conduct. In the past, they are said to have been used as a method of courting between young men and women.
Hakka Hill Songs are also used as a form of communication at a distance. Since Hakka people mostly live in hilly areas, song is used as a better mean of communication than spoken words. The melody of Hakka Hill Songs tend to have higher pitch so the sound can travel farther.
Hakka Hill Songs can be made up impromptu, to communicate with others or to express oneself. The lyrics can also be made to contain puzzles, as a game or a more competitive nature. The challenger will answer the puzzle in the form of song of similar melody.
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