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Tinsagu nu Hana

Tinsagu nu Hana - Japan

Lorena Varela. Tinsagu nu Hana Arrangements (CC BY-SA)
Vargsången lyrics bi¡utton



Tinsagu nu Hana

Tinsagu nu Hana (also Chinsagu nu Hana, The Balsam Flowers) is an Okinawan traditional children's song, which became Okinawa Prefecture's Official Favorite Song in 2011. The song is written in Ryūka, a form of traditional Okinawan poetry that originated in the Ryukyu Islands. A Ryūka generally follows an 8-8-8-6 syllable pattern and is usually accompanied by a sanshin, an Okinawan string instrument.

The lyrics emphasize the importance of following one's ancestors' advice and passing their wisdom to the next generations. Parents' teachings should remain in one's heart just as the pigments from balsam flowers remain on one's nails.

Here you have got the sound file.

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Reading comprenhension

Reading comprenhension imageLet's read again the information about the song Tinsagu nu Hana and decide if the following sentences are true or false and get ready to justify your answers according to the text.

Question 1

1. Sanshin is a type of wind instrument.

Question 2

2. Tinsagu nu Hana's lyrics mention flowers.

Question 3

3. Okinawa is a peninsula in China.

Question 4

4. Ryūka is a type of traditional poetry.

Question 5

5. Tinsagu nu Hana is a typical song for teenagers and adults.

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