Constructing a Generational Framework for Guzheng Practice in Malaysia: Social Location, Cultural Memory, and Transmission

Abstract

Within Malaysia's postcolonial social context, the guzheng occupies a central position within the tradition of Chinese musical instruments. Its transmission is not merely a straightforward continuation of technique, but rather a process of structural reconfiguration shaped by historical transformations. Existing research predominantly focuses on linear historical narratives or biographical accounts of representative figures, with scant attention paid to structural differences among distinct performance communities. Consequently, overseas guzheng practice is often interpreted as a passive extension of Chinese tradition rather than an active practice of cultural re-shaping. Drawing upon ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Kuala Lumpur and Penang between 2022 and 2025, this paper employs Karl Mannheim's concept of social positioning to construct an intergenerational analytical framework transcending chronological age. Through comparative analysis of learning pathways, sources of authority, and forms of capital, the study identifies three generational patterns within Malaysian Chinese guzheng performance. The first generation primarily relied on clan networks and diasporic memory, with authority rooted in masterful musical craftsmanship. The second generation emerged amidst political and institutional uncertainty, undertaking localisation experiments that reshaped the guzheng's social functions. The third generation developed within a globalised environment, increasingly establishing legitimacy through academic certification and cultural capital derived from digital media. This paper contends that the core of guzheng transmission lies not in preserving formal characteristics, but in the transformation of legitimacy validation mechanisms, particularly the shift of authority from representing the auditory markers of homeland to institutionally certified qualifications. By emphasising these generational dynamics, the proposed framework elucidates how the guzheng continually reshapes its cultural authority through contextual reconfiguration, offering a structural perspective for understanding the evolution of diaspora musical cultures.