A brief History of Shanghai & Shidaiqu
Shidaiqu–What is it?
Shidaiqu, a genre of Chinese popular music often played on the radio and produced in films, originated from the international and cosmopolitan nightlife in early twentieth-century Shanghai. In the 1920s, composer Li Jinhui, the “Father of Chinese Popular Music,” began writing this hybrid music that combined Chinese operatic music, American jazz, Tin Pan Alley songs, and other Western music styles. It became immensely popular throughout the 1930s and 1940s until the establishment of the People’s Republic of China led to its banning, and it was often labeled “yellow music” by those critical of its origins and associations. Many performers and others involved in the entertainment industry fled to Hong Kong in the 1950s. Shidaiqu later influenced other East Asian popular music genres such as Cantopop, Mandopop, and Hokkien pop. More contemporary popular culture usages of shidaiqu include the opening scene of Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and the soundtrack of Crazy Rich Asians (2018). For more information about shidaiqu and popular culture in Shanghai during this time, visit the Resources tab.
Timeline
The First Opium War (1839–1842) with the United Kingdom and the subsequent Treaty of Nanjing opened Shanghai up to Western powers (Britain, France, USA, Germany)
1830
The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) led to regional dominance by Japan and further failure of the Qing Dynasty in preventing foreign influence from controlling China.
The 1911 Xinhai Revolution, led by revolutionaries near Shanghai, overthrew the Qing dynasty and led to the establishment of the Republic of China.
In the 1920s and 30s, Shanghai became a cosmopolitan hub for the production of Chinese cinema, animation, and popular music as well as a home for hedonistic activities including opium, prostitution, and gambling. It was also home to growing leftism and the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921.
By 1936, Shanghai had grown exponentially to a population of 3 million, a collection of native Chinese people, Russian and Jewish refugees, American or European expatriates, and visitors. These influences helped develop Shanghai into a technologically and economically Westernized city.
The Second Sino-Japanese War/World War II (1937–1945) led to the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.
In 1949, the Chinese Commmunist Party took over Shanghai, cracking down on the cultural activities of the city and transforming it into an industrial center.
