Folk Song Conservation Strategies from a Cross-Cultural Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review

This article uses a systematic literature review to deeply explore the core elements, challenges, and effectiveness of folk song conservation strategies around the world. As an important carrier of cultural heritage and community identity, folk songs face many challenges in modern society, including adaptation to cultural modernization, insufficient financial resources, and a lack of inheritance talents. This study focuses on analyzing and summarizing specific strategies and measures that can effectively promote and protect this unique cultural form. On this basis, we further explored the role of community action in folk song preservation, that is, how different communities support the preservation and inheritance of folk songs through participation and cooperation. The literature review shows that government support, the formulation and enforcement of cultural heritage regulations, education and training programs, and the application of modern technology in cultural inheritance are the main strategies for folk song preservation. In addition, community participation plays an important role in the revitalized inheritance and daily practice of folk songs. The role of governments and institutions is to provide the necessary support and protective framework to promote the continuity and vitality of folk song culture. This study aims to provide theoretical support and practical reference for future research and practice in the field of folk song protection.


Introduction
Folk songs, as an important part of cultural heritage, not only carry rich historical and cultural information, but also symbolize national and regional cultural identity (Kuang & He, Vol 14, Issue 6, (2024) E-ISSN: 2222-6990 To Link this Article: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i6/21785DOI:10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i6/21785 Published Date: 20 June 2024 2022; Li, 2023).Under the influence of globalization and modernization, the protection of folk songs has become a key issue in cultural heritage research and practice.The concept of folk song protection was gradually formed with the increasing emphasis on intangible cultural heritage (Liu, 2016).It refers to the preservation and maintenance of folk songs, an intangible cultural heritage, including improving the understanding of the history and cultural value of folk songs, and taking corresponding measures to ensure that folk songs are not forgotten or disappear.The concepts and practices of folk song preservation are diverse in different regions and cultural contexts, involving multiple aspects such as policy, education, technology, and community participation (Huang & Song, 2022;Usua, 2017).With social changes and technological development, the status and form of folk songs in traditional culture are also constantly evolving (Dinç, 2020;Novik, 2020).Academic research on folk song protection strategies has made certain progress.Many regions have begun to recognize the importance of folk songs as intangible cultural heritage and have formulated protection regulations and policies accordingly (Zhao, 2018;Wu, 2015).Some areas inherit and promote folk songs by adding folk song teaching to school curricula or holding community activities (Chamniyom & Sawanglap, 2022;Phongnil, 2023).There are also some studies that have achieved effective organization and dissemination of folk song materials by creating databases and using technologies such as machine learning (Huang & Song, 2022;Sabirova, 2020).Wulan et al (2019) discussed the opportunities provided by globalization and modernization for the dissemination and development of local folk songs.Through international cultural exchange projects, folk songs from different countries and regions can be known and appreciated on a wider scale, thereby increasing the possibility of the spread and protection of folk songs (Wulan et al., 2019;Zuo et al., 2020).However, current research still lacks systematicness and comprehensiveness.Many studies focus on the protection of folk songs in specific regions or ethnic groups, lacking comparison and systematic analysis of different protection strategies (Zhao, 2018;Wu, 2015).
Despite progress in folk song conservation, many challenges remain in the effectiveness, systematicness, and sustainability of conservation strategies.Some strategies may focus too much on the commercial utilization of culture, while ignoring the essential value of folk songs in cultural inheritance (Gao, 2015;Tang 2018;Zuo et al (2020), while others lack in-depth thinking on combining the protection of folk songs with the development of modern society (Dinç, 2020;Sabirova et al., 2020).Therefore, exploring the commonalities and differences in folk song protection strategies under different cultural and social backgrounds has become an urgent research topic.This study aims to explore and compare folk song protection strategies and their practical effects in different cultural backgrounds through a systematic literature review, with special attention to the key elements in folk song protection strategies and the role of communities in folk song protection.
In exploring the protection of folk songs, conducting a systematic literature review is not only an academic inquiry, but also a process of in-depth understanding of cultural diversity and traditional values.It reveals how cultural heritage is understood and respected in contemporary society, and rich dimensions of re-creation.By comparing folk song preservation strategies in different cultural contexts, we can not only identify the effectiveness and limitations of various strategies, but also gain in-depth insights into the transformation and challenges of folk songs in the era of globalization (Kuang & He, 2022;Phongnil, 2023).This process not only helps to understand the contemporary value of folk songs as intangible cultural heritage, but also provides theoretical support and practical reference for the future direction of folk song protection.In addition, this systematic literature review of folk song conservation strategies is not only a review of the past, but also a prediction and planning of future paths.Through in-depth exploration and critical analysis, a solid theoretical foundation and practical direction can be provided for formulating a more comprehensive and flexible folk song protection strategy.This will not only help enrich our understanding of folk songs and their role in different cultural and social environments, but also provide new perspectives and methods for researchers and practitioners in the field of folk song preservation.In summary, through this systematic review, we aim to build a more comprehensive and profound knowledge framework for folk song protection and provide new ideas and strategies for the protection and inheritance of this precious cultural heritage.

Literature retrieval sources and strategies
To comprehensively collect existing academic results, this study selected Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI as the main data sources.Web of Science is well-known in the global academic community as a high-impact academic journal covering multiple disciplines.It is the first choice resource for literature review, research trend analysis, and finding relevant research.Scopus is favored by researchers for its efficient search function and user-friendly interface and has gathered more than 15,000 journals.As a well-known Chinese academic database, CNKI provides a large number of Chinese research resources and is particularly suitable for in-depth discussions on China-related academic issues.The purpose of this study is to delve into the key elements of folk song conservation strategies and the importance of community involvement.The purpose of this research review is to deeply explore the key factors in folk song protection strategies and the importance of community participation.There are many related papers on CNKI, so the CNKI database is also indispensable.
This study also incorporated the PRISMA method.PRISMA, the preferred reporting item for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, was proposed by David Moher et al. in 2009 to enhance the structure and quality of systematic reviews and meta-analysis reports.This method has received increasing attention in social science research and has been widely used to systematically review and integrate the literature (Petticrew & Roberts, 2006).The core of the PRISMA method is that it helps researchers draw precise and powerful conclusions through in-depth analysis, detailed descriptions, and comprehensive summaries of data from published studies (Armstrong, 2011).This method is not only regarded as an efficient academic research and practical tool, but it also helps researchers conduct reasonable theoretical integration when evaluating numerous research literatures, resulting in a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the research problem (Tranfield, 2003).This method has been updated and improved in content and structure in 2020 to reflect the latest advances in systematic review methods (Page et al., 2021) By adopting the PRISMA method, this study was more systematic and standardized in the reporting process, ensuring the transparency and reproducibility of the research results.This not only enhances the scientific nature and rigor of the research but also helps improve the overall quality of the research.It provides researchers with a clear framework for effectively collecting, analyzing, and reporting findings from systematic reviews and metaanalyses.Combined with the PRISMA method, this study can more deeply explore the similarities and diversities in different folk song conservation strategies and make new and valuable contributions to academic research in this field.Through carefully selected literature databases and PRISMA methods, this study established a solid and comprehensive research foundation, ensuring the comprehensiveness, depth, and academic rigor of the research, thereby providing valuable insights and inferences for academia and related practice fields.The research question of this article is mainly to explore and analyze the folk song protection strategies in previous studies, and how these strategies reflect their unique cultural, social and economic backgrounds, and to summarize the effects of folk song protection.Through an in-depth analysis of the existing literature, we discuss the core elements of folk song conservation strategies and how these strategies operate in different cultural and social contexts.In view of that there are relatively few English-language documents on in-depth research on the protection of folk songs in specific regions, the author will choose to expand the search terms to query related papers.Expanding the scope of search terms will help improve the coverage of the literature, thereby discovering more relevant research and information.Doing so could include research on folk song conservation strategies in other regions or countries as well as broader cultural heritage conservation research, providing additional references and comparative perspectives for research.At the same time, this method helps identify and compare strategies for folk song preservation in different cultures and regions, revealing to a certain extent effective strategies for folk song preservation and understanding the unique challenges faced by these regions.

The search terms
In order to access all relevant literature, the author used a search for subject terms in WOS, and due to the use of Boolean operations and asterisk wildcards, the author expanded the search to include relevant characters: 'folk song* conserv* or folk song* protect* or folk song* preserv*" Using such a keyword and subject term search, a total of 197 documents were searched in the Web of Science database, and in the Scopus electronic database, the main search scope used was the title, abstract, and keywords of the paper, and a total of 209 documents were searched.In CNKI database, the search scheme is still keyword search, and the keyword is directly "folk song protection", and a total of 463 documents were searched.(Table 1) The criteria for eligibility (1) Documents whose titles, abstracts, and keywords contain the keywords mentioned in the search strategy, and those whose textual content is found to be closely related to this review by reading the abstracts and methodology sections of each document are selected; (2) The type of document is a published journal article; (3) The language in which the document is written must be either English or Chinese; (4) The search timeframe: the timeframe of the Chinese and English document searches is from 2014 to 2024; (5) For quantity and quality considerations, Web of Science core set was used for English, and two more influential subsets of academic journal sources of CNKI were selected for Chinese literature: Chinese Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index and Chinese Core Journals, which are all high-quality literature of both Chinese and English journals; (6) Most of the selected papers are highly cited papers.
Exclusion criteria:(1)duplicate literature; (2) type of literature: review articles, press releases, book series, book chapters, conference presentations, scientific;(3) journal articles not in English or Chinese; ( 4 ) where full text is not available or where the information is incomplete;(5)where the text content is not relevant to the current review; and (6) where the publication date is before 2014.(Table 2)

Research selection process
In the initial selection, the author searched based on the above keywords, and the obtained literature may still be irrelevant to the research topic of this article.Determine whether to delete the selected articles by reading the research abstract and conclusion and research methods, and following the time range from 2014 to 2014.Therefore, in the WOS database,151articles remained after screening, and in the Scopus database, the number of relevant documents after screening was 83.The relevant documents in the CNKI database are directly selected from a total of 89 relevant documents in the Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index and China Core Journals.Then, the author further screened according to the exclusion criteria set above, downloaded documents whose content was closely related to the folk song culture protection strategy, and read the full text.Finally,14 English documents and 26 Chinese documents were identified as literature for the review.The specific process is shown in the Figure 1.

Results
The research content of Chinese and English literature is different.Although they both emphasize the importance of the protection and inheritance of folk art in modern society and the strategies of cultural protection, the vision, culture and geographical focus are different.The English literature reflects a global perspective, covering folk music and dance in Thailand, Indonesia, Yunnan, China and other places.The Chinese literature pays more attention to the research on the protection and inheritance of Chinese local folk songs and folk songs of different ethnic groups, such as Tujia, Korean, Qiang, etc.The English literature focuses more on the impact of globalization and modernization on traditional culture, while the Chinese literature focuses more on the protection and development strategies of specific national cultures.Both explore the adaptation and innovation of cultural heritage in social changes.In view of the differences between Chinese and English literature, the author discusses the English literature and Chinese literature separately to draw a more comprehensive conclusion.Table 3 shows the basic information of the English literature, while Table 4 shows the basic information of the Chinese literature.

Subjects, Categories, and Locations
Through a meta-analysis of 14 English documents, it was found that they all involve cultural protection, but the subject focus is different and can be roughly divided into five directions.First, several studies have explored the impact of globalization and modernization on folk songs.For example, Li (2023) investigated the cultural diversity along China's Grand Canal, and Zuo et al (2020) analyzed the impact of tourism on the soundscape of Lugu Lake.Liu et al (2022) discussed the inheritance and development of folk song culture in the process of modernization.Wulan et al (2019) pointed out that globalization and modernization provide opportunities for the spread and development of local folk songs.Secondly, some literature focuses on the adaptation and innovation of folk songs in social changes.For example, Phongnil (2023) studied the identity and presence of Hin Le Le folk music in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Zajedova & Rüütel (2014) did so from the perspective of exiled Estonians maintaining cultural traditions through folk dance.Discuss.
Furthermore, many documents focus on the protection and inheritance strategies of folk songs.For example, Kuang & He (2022) studied the impact of modern economic and social structural changes on Yunnan folk music; Chamniyom & Sawanglap (2022) examined the role of literary folk songs in Thailand's Kamjunang Province in protecting intangible cultural heritage; Huang & Song (2022) studied the use of machine learning technology to manage the information of "Huaer" folk songs.In addition to this, some studies focus on methodologies for cultural heritage conservation.For example, Sabirova et al (2020) explored the spiritual characteristics of Kazakh traditional songs and their role in cultural maintenance; Omarova et al (2020) studied the importance of Kazakh traditional songs and music in preserving and systematizing folk music traditions.
These studies mainly focus on the protection and inheritance strategies of folk song culture in different regions around the world, with particular attention to the impact of globalization and modernization, adaptation and innovation in social changes, and specific strategies and methods for folk song protection.A wide range of regions are involved, including China (Huang & Song, 2022;Kuang & He, 2022;Li, 2023;Liu, 2022;Zuo, 2020); Kazakhstan Omarova et al (2020); Sabirova et al (2020); Albania Novik et al (2020); Sweden and Germany Zajedova & Rüütel (2014); Thailand Chamniyom & Sawanglap (2022); Phongnil (2023); Indonesia Wulan, et al(2019); Nigeria Usua (2017); Turkey (Dinç, 2020).This reflects global concern and diversified research perspectives on the preservation of folk music culture.
A meta-analysis of 26 Chinese documents shows that these documents are directly related to the topic of folk song protection.However, by analyzing the main research content and areas of concern of each document, these documents can be divided into the following five topic categories.First, the protection and inheritance of traditional folk songs Li (2018); Zhao (2018); Liu (2017); Gong (2017); Wang (2020); Wu (2022), this category focuses on the protection and inheritance of traditional folk songs from different regions and ethnic groups in the context of modernization and globalization.Secondly, folk songs and regional culture Lu (2016); Chen & Deng (2017); Yu (2018); Zhang (2021), explore the relationship and mutual influence between folk songs and regional culture.In addition, the modernization and innovation of folk songs Gao (2015); Tang (2018); Li (2017); Zhang (2018), this category mainly studies how to combine folk songs with modern elements to adapt to social changes.Furthermore, academic research and theoretical discussion of folk songs (Niu & Duan ,2024;Zhao,2020;Le,2014), this category focuses on the academic and theoretical aspects of folk song research.Finally, the social function and value of folk songs Wu (2015); Li (2017); Kou (2020); Zou (2014); Shan (2016); Xie (2014); Ma (2016); Guo (2019); He (2023), this category emphasizes the role and importance of folk songs in society.These documents mainly focus on the protection and inheritance strategies of folk song culture in different regions, as well as the modernization, academic research and social value of folk songs, demonstrating global concern and diversified research perspectives on the protection of folk music culture.
After sorting out the research locations of 26 Chinese documents, we can find that the research locations of these documents cover multiple provinces and regions in China, covering a wide range of areas from the northeast to the southwest, and from the coast to the inland.Specifically, it includes the southwest Hubei region of Hubei Province Li (2018) Zou (2014), the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the border areas between China and Mongolia Zhao (2020), and the western Hunan region, mainly including the Laer Mountain Platform and affiliated areas in western Hunan Le (2014), Qiang areas in Sichuan Province Wu (2015), Yunnan and Guizhou provinces Li (2017), Yugur areas in Sunan (Shan, (2016), Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County in Guangxi Xie (2014), Xinjiang, China (Ma, 2016), Xinyang City in Henan Province Guo (2019), and the Dabie Mountains region, spanning three provinces: Hubei Province, Henan Province, and Anhui Province (He, 2023).These studies are geographically distributed widely and cover the protection of folk songs of multiple ethnic groups and regions in China, reflecting the diversity and comprehensiveness of research on folk song protection in China.

Identification of the Issues and Study Objective
After analyzing the 14 English documents in Table 4, three key issues related to the protection of folk culture can be identified.These issues provide comprehensive support and guidance for folk song protection strategies from the theoretical, technical, and practical levels.The first is the modern challenge faced by folk cultural heritage, which is highlighted in the study of Zuo et al (2020): with the development of tourism, ethnic languages and dialects face diluted internal conflicts.Facing the challenges of globalization and modernization, it has become increasingly difficult to protect and inherit cultural heritage.National art activities have become the key to ensuring the continuation of cultural traditions (Zajedova & Rüütel, 2014).Kuang and He (2022) emphasized the impact of modern economic and social structural changes on Yunnan folk music, demonstrating the vulnerability of traditional culture in the face of modernization challenges.Novik (2020) explores the influence of political factors on Albanian folk festivals, pointing out the challenges of the contemporary national festival system in the socialist space.Dinç (2020) believes that folk music is influenced by politics and ideology during social changes, and lyrics are tampered with to conform to specific political ideologies.
Another outstanding issue is the protection and inheritance of folk cultural heritage.Usua (2017) mentioned that in African societies, traditional forms of entertainment (e.g.mask dance, music) can be preserved through the medium of video film in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.Phongnil (2023) discussed the importance of local music culture in cultural preservation and inheritance, emphasizing the role of the Phuket Provincial Department of Culture in encouraging the younger generation to learn and inherit Hin Le Le folk songs.Li (2023) study focused on the importance of specific cultural elements in the preservation and inheritance of folk songs along China's Grand Canal, while Chamniyom & Sawanglap (2022) mentioned the process of preserving and inheriting cultural heritage, including knowledge seeking, Create, save and share.Finally, the application of technology in cultural heritage conservation brings new possibilities to this field.The research of Huang and Song (2020) shows the method of using machine learning technology to manage and mine the information of "Hua'er" folk songs, proposing a new approach to digital intangible cultural heritage management.
In analyzing 26 Chinese documents, we identified several major problems faced by Chinese folk songs, especially their survival and development dilemmas.The first problem is that folk songs have lost their survival soil.Le (2014) first pointed out that Miao folk songs face the risk of decline or even extinction after being separated from the original ecological environment.Shan (2016) also mentioned that the traditional folk songs of the Yugu people have lost their survival soil in the process of modernization and are in danger of disappearing.Li (2017) discussed the survival and changes of original ecological folk songs of ethnic minorities in the context of globalization, emphasizing the issues of inheritance and protection.Zhao (2018) discussed the challenges of original ecological folk songs in Madu Township, involving musicological analysis.Tang (2018) observed that commercial adaptations in the Nanning International Folk Song Art Festival weakened the traditional Zhuang folk song culture.Kou (2020) pointed out the difficulties encountered by folk songs in northern Shaanxi, such as the disappearance of the original ecology, the reduction of audiences, and the decline in creative power.He (2023) emphasized that Dabie Mountain folk songs have lost their main support for survival due to changes in the geographical environment.
The second problem is the lack of inheritors and financial support for folk songs.Xie (2014) put forward policy suggestions for Maonan folk songs.Wu (2015) talked about the danger of Qiang folk songs becoming extinct due to a lack of inheritors and financial support.When Gong (2017) discussed the inheritance and protection of Korean traditional folk songs, he put forward suggestions to speed up the cultivation of inheritance talents.Li (2017) mentioned that the number of people inheriting original folk songs has decreased and the main body is facing a crisis of disconnection.Zhang (2018) pointed out that there is a lack of young inheritors in the protection of folk songs and insufficient efforts to develop the "Huaer" culture.Zhao (2020) believes that there is a lack of conceptual guidance in the inheritance of long-tune folk songs.Zhang (2021) pointed out that Henan has faults in inheritors and backward inheritance methods.He (2023) discussed the insufficient inheritance of folk songs in the Dabie Mountains.
Third, the impact of modernization and changes in the social and cultural environment on folk songs.Lu (2016) discussed the marginalization of ethnic minority original music in the face of the impact of modern culture.Liu (2017) research shows the impact of tea culture on the protection and inheritance of traditional Chinese folk songs.Chen and Deng (2017) mentioned that Tibetan and Qiang native folk songs are influenced by modern aesthetic characteristics.Li (2018) believes that modern music gradually replaces traditional folk songs.Guo (2019) mentioned that Xinyang folk songs have gradually declined under the impact of modernization and market economy.Wang (2020) pointed out the impact of historical changes and complex social environment on Daur folk songs.Wu (2022) feels that folk songs in northern Shaanxi cannot reflect real life.
Finally, there is the loss of cultural values and traditional identity.Gao (2015) raised concerns about the industrial development of folk songs in Guangxi.Ma (2016) pointed out that Kazakh folk songs have lost their original flavor in the process of inheritance.Yu (2018) pointed out when studying Sichuan folk songs that catering to public aesthetics and economic interests leads to cultural distortion.When discussing folk songs in northern Shaanxi, Niu and Duan (2024) mentioned the problems of an imperfect inheritance system, conservative protection methods, and a lack of local cultural identity.

Method of These Research
In 14 English-language documents, various research methods were applied to explore issues of cultural heritage protection and inheritance.Most studies adopted qualitative methods (Phongnil, 2023;Zajedova & Rüütel, 2014;Kuang & He, 2022;Omarova et al., 2020;Chamniyom & Sawanglap, 2022;Sabirova et al., 2020;Zuo et al., 2020;Wulan et al (2019); Dinç (2020), involving in-depth interviews and observations to gain a deep understanding of cultural phenomena and social contexts.For example, some studies use ethnomusicological methods to explore the identity and characteristics of Thai folk songs Phongnil (2023); other studies use quantitative methods Li (2023); Liu et al (2022); Usua (2017), such as using statistical data and geographical methods to analyze the distribution patterns and influencing factors of cultural heritage (Li, 2023).In addition, there are also studies that combine field investigations, document analysis, and case study methods to explore the inheritance and protection strategies of cultural heritage in different social and political environments (Novik, 2020).There is also a study that used mixed research methods Huang & Song (2022) to explore how to use machine learning technology to manage folk song information and explore the potential of applying machine learning in intangible cultural heritage management.The diversity of these research methods provides a more comprehensive perspective and contributes to a deeper understanding and protection of cultural heritage.
In 26 Chinese documents, a variety of research methods were used to explore the protection and inheritance of folk songs.Among them, qualitative research methods are widely used, and the selected Chinese documents basically use qualitative research as the main research method.Data collection methods involve document analysis, case studies, field surveys, interviews, audio-visual materials and text data analysis, etc. Document analysis is a commonly used research method, and many documents Niu & Duan (2024); Tang (2018); Gao (2015); He (2023); Zhao (2018); Liu (2017); Zou (014) adopt this method ways to collect data.In addition, some literature also combines case study methods (Zou, 2014;Li, 2017;Yu, 2018).Some studies focus on the musicological perspective and use field survey methods Zhao (2020); He (2023); Zhao (2018); Wu (2022), providing on-the-ground testimony and data for in-depth understanding and protection of folk songs.Of course, when collecting data, different collection methods will be used at the same time, and some studies also add the interview method Lu (2016); Shan (2016); Niu & Duan (2024); Zhao (2018); Yu (2018), and some studies Chen & Deng (2017); Wu (2015); Ma (2016); Zhao (2020) used both audiovisual and textual data analysis methods.Through different research methods, these documents provide us with a multi-angle view on the protection and inheritance of folk songs, helping us to more comprehensively understand and protect this important cultural heritage.

Research Findings
Exploring the conservation and development of folk music, fourteen English-language documents reveal a rich range of practices in different regions around the world.Research by Phongnil (2023) shows that Phitsanulok Province's folk song protection strategies include Naresuan University organizing events to increase awareness, the Ministry of Culture officially protecting Hin Le Le songs, elderly folk singer artist groups playing a key role in cultural inheritance, and Wat Bot District through oral traditions Keep folk songs alive (Phongnil, 2023).Li (2023) believes that the protection strategy for folk songs along China's Grand Canal lies in conducting field surveys and collecting historical materials, strengthening inheritor training and digital protection, and conservatories bear important inheritance responsibilities (Li, 2023).Zajedova and Rüütel (2014) pointed out that in Estonian exile communities in Germany and Sweden, folk song preservation strategies mainly focus on categories, influencing factors, and the maintenance of modern traditions.(Zajedova & Rüütel, 2014) Kuang and He (2022) found that the project to protect 24 folk songs in Yunnan took a variety of measures, such as holding art weeks, performances, competitions, and exhibitions, promoting folk songs through organizations and clubs, and updating the repertoire (Kuang & He, 2022).Novik (2020) mentioned the folk song protection strategy of the Girocastra Folklore Festival, including government support such as funding folk groups to keep traditional costumes alive (Novik, 2020).Omarova et al (2020) emphasized the importance of preserving and systematizing musical folklore, collecting ancient themes from the steppe to enrich the musical foundation.(Omarova et al., 2020) Huang and Song ( 2022) used machine learning to analyze the cultural characteristics of "Hua'er" folk songs in northwest China, built a resource database, and provided new research and inheritance methods (Huang & Song, 2022).Liu et al (2022) pointed out that the protection of intangible cultural heritage along the ancient Qin-Shu Road in Western China should pay attention to the protection and inheritance of folk songs (Liu et al., 2022).Chamniyom and Sawanglap (2022) described the restoration and protection strategies of folk song culture in Kanchanaburi Province, emphasizing the importance of knowledge collection, innovation, preservation, and sharing (Chamniyom & Sawanglap, 2022).Sabirova et al (2020) proposed a protection strategy for folk songs in Kazakhstan, including the protection of traditional poetry and the innovation of folk traditions (Sabirova et al., 2020) Zuo et al (2020) found that with the development of tourism, traditional folk songs are often adapted to pursue economic interests, emphasizing the importance of protecting the original cultural connotation of folk songs (Zuo et al., 2020).Wulan et al (2019) discussed conservation strategies for the "Tundang" folk song in West Kalimantan, emphasizing the use of stories as teaching tools in schools (Wulan et al., 2019).Usua (2017) recommended the preservation and promotion of traditional forms of entertainment, especially folk songs and stories, through film production (Usua, 2017).Dinç (2020) explores the role of Turkish folk music in cultural preservation, analyzing how folk songs are influenced by politics and ideology (Dinç, 2020) Combining these studies, we can see the global diversity of strategies for folk song protection and inheritance.From activities and cultural inheritance in Phitsanulok Province to field surveys and inheritor training along the Grand Canal in China, each region adopts unique methods to protect folk song heritage.These studies highlight the complexity of folk song conservation, involving a wide range of applications from traditional methods to modern technology, demonstrating widespread awareness and efforts worldwide to protect these valuable cultural expressions.
The 26 Chinese documents cover the protection and inheritance of folk songs in different regions of China, revealing various challenges and strategies.Among them, four documents from the Sichuan region show different conservation strategies.Wu (2015) emphasized the establishment of folk song art museums, holding training courses and the formulation of laws and regulations, as well as strengthening support for inheritors.Chen and Deng (2017) discussed the protection of Tibetan and Qiang native folk songs, focusing on expanding the audience and meeting aesthetic needs.Zhao (2018) proposed that the government invest special funds and establish a protection mechanism, while Yu (2018) emphasized the principles of authenticity, focus, and sustainability.
Four documents from the Guangxi region also reveal diverse conservation strategies.Xie (2014) paid attention to the protection of Maonan folk songs and proposed the formulation of laws and regulations and the cultivation of inheritance talents.Gao (2015) proposed the establishment of ecological reserves and contemporary transformations in the market.Li (2017) discussed the campus introduction of Zhuang folk songs and the integration of cultural tourism, while Tang (2018) advocated the protection of original beauty and resistance to excessive marketization.
Three documents from the Shaanxi region focus on the role of government and cultural integration.Zou (2014) proposed to increase the emphasis on local music and government support.Kou (2020) focuses on the cooperation between government leadership, cultural enterprises, and social groups.Niu and Duan (2024) proposed that education and research training strengthen the cultural foundation.
Two documents from the Henan region reveal the archival protection strategies of folk songs in Xinyang and Henan.Guo (2019) focuses on the importance of establishing databases, legal management, and multimedia archives.Zhang (2021) emphasized the improvement of policies and regulations, the protection of inheritors, and the development of resources from multiple perspectives.Regarding the protection of Korean and Daur folk songs in Northeast China, research by Gong (2017); Wang (2020) proposed a strategy that combines traditional festivals and information management.
In addition, literature from other regions has proposed their unique conservation strategies.Le (2014) about the Miao people in western Hunan, Shan (2016) about the Yugu people in southern Sunan, Ma (2016) about the Kazakhs in Xinjiang, Li (2017) about the original ecological folk songs of ethnic minorities, Zhang (2018) about the Hui people "Flowers", Li (2018) on traditional music, Zhao (2020) on Mongolian long-tune folk songs, Wu (2022) on the overall strategy of folk song protection, and He (2023) on Dabie Mountain folk songs, all provide diverse protection perspectives and methods.
Through the integration of these research findings, we can see that the protection and inheritance of folk songs in different regions of China face diverse challenges and adopt various strategies.There are abundant studies in Sichuan, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Henan and other regions, revealing the unique cultural background and protection needs of each place.Research in Sichuan focuses on the protection of Qiang and Tibetan Qiang native folk songs, involving strategies such as art museum construction, laws and regulations, and inheritor training.Research in Guangxi focuses on the protection of Maonan and Zhuang folk songs, emphasizing the establishment of ecological reserves, cultural tourism integration, and market-oriented transformation.Research in Shaanxi focuses on the strengthening of the government's role, the participation of cultural enterprises and the collaboration of social groups.Research in Henan focuses on the protection of oral archives of Xinyang folk songs and Henan folk songs, including archival protection, improvement of policies and regulations, and multi-perspective resource development.In addition, research from Northeast China, Hubei, Ningxia, Hunan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Gansu and Xinjiang also shows that the protection of folk songs requires a diversified strategy that combines regional characteristics.Overall, these studies reflect in-depth concerns and innovative inheritance methods for the protection of folk song cultural heritage across China, highlighting the cultural diversity and necessity of conservation strategies in different regions.

Discussion
This systematic literature review is dedicated to an in-depth exploration and analysis of key elements of folk song conservation strategies and their effectiveness.Given that folk songs are not only an important part of cultural heritage but also an important carrier of community identity and cultural heritage, our focus is on which specific strategies and measures can effectively promote and protect this unique cultural form.In addition, this review also pays special attention to the role of community action in the preservation of folk songs, exploring how different communities support the preservation and inheritance of folk songs through participation and cooperation.Through a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, we aim to identify and summarize effective folk song conservation strategies to provide guidance for further research and practice.

Similarities and Differences
Globally, folk song conservation strategies exhibit some common characteristics.In most literature Xie (2014); Zou (2014); Wu (2015); Novik (2020); Zhang (2021); Phongnil (2023), the government's protection strategy and legal support for folk songs are considered important conditions.They pointed out that the government's financial assistance, regulatory construction and policy formulation are crucial to the protection of folk songs.In addition, in many documents Le (2014); Li (2017); Tang (2018); Kou (2020); Niu & Duan (2024), the active participation of the community and the promotion of cultural education have been emphasized as the importance of folk song protection component.The involvement of community members and the educational passing on of folk songs play a huge role in the success of conservation efforts.At the same time, many studies Usua (2017); Chen & Deng (2017); Wulan et al (2019); Novik (2020); Kuang & He (2022); Phongnil (2023) also pointed out that through organizations Various cultural activities to increase the visibility and popularity of folk songs are an effective conservation strategy.These events include concerts, festivals, exhibitions and competitions.Some literature Shan (2016); Guo (2019); Wang (2020) ;Zhao, (2020) mentioned the use of modern technology, especially digital means, to preserve and inherit folk songs.These methods include the creation of digital archives, databases and the use of the Internet for dissemination.Finally, in many documents Xie (2014); Gao (2015); Wu (2015); Chen & Deng (2017); Zhang (2018); Wang (2020), the importance of training cultural inheritors has been emphasized.Training and supporting bearers are vital to sustaining and growing the folk song tradition.
In these documents, there are also some differences in the research on folk song protection strategies.These differences are mainly reflected in regional characteristics, specific implementation strategies, differences in technical applications, diversity of participating subjects, and innovation in protection methods.For example, research in Sichuan, as shown by Wu (2015), focuses on the protection of Qiang and Tibetan Qiang native folk songs, emphasizing the importance of local culture.In contrast, studies in Guangxi Xie (2014); Gao (2015) focus on the protection of Maonan and Zhuang folk songs, focusing on the integration of folk songs and cultural tourism and their marketization transformation.There are also significant differences in the specific strategies implemented by regions.For example, research in Shaanxi Zou (2014) focuses on the strengthening of the government's role and the participation of cultural enterprises, while research in Henan Guo (2019); Zhang (2021) focuses on the archival protection of folk songs and the development of oral histories.save.In addition, some areas have adopted modern technical means for folk song protection, such as digital protection and Internet dissemination Shan (2016); Guo (2019); Wang (2020); Zhao (2020), which is different from other areas that focus more on traditional preservation and the inheritance method contrasts.The diversity of participants is also a key difference.Some regions, as shown by Le (2014); Li (2017), emphasize the participation of community members and the promotion of cultural education, while other regions may place more emphasis on the role of government and academic institutions.In terms of protection means, some studies such as Usua (2017); Chen & Deng (2017); Wulan et al (2019); Novik (2020); Kuang & He (2022); Phongnil (2023) proposed Innovative methods have been developed, including through cultural events such as concerts, festivals, exhibitions and competitions to increase the visibility and popularity of folk songs.

Research Limitations
First, sample and scope limitations are a common limitation of Chinese and English folk song conservation research.In the English literature, many studies such as Phongnil (2023); Omarova et al (2020); Liu et al (2022); Chamniyom & Sawanglap (2022); Kuang & He (2022) ;Li, (2023) focuses on specific regions or cultural groups, such as Thailand's Hin Le Le folk song artist group, Kazakh music and poetry traditions, and the intangible cultural heritage of western China.This focus may limit the general applicability and breadth of the findings.Similarly, Chinese literature also shows the limitation of geographical focus, mainly studying folk songs of specific regions or ethnic minorities, such as Qiang music in Sichuan Wu (2015), Zhuang original folk songs in Guangxi Li (2017) and northern Shaanxi Folk songs (Niu & Duan, 2024).Although this focus is helpful for in-depth exploration of the issue of folk song protection in a specific region, the lack of cross-regional or cross-ethnic comparative research limits a comprehensive discussion of the similarities and differences between folk songs in different regions.
Secondly, whether it is English or Chinese literature, the limitations of research methods and the singleness of data sources are also common.These limitations may lead to biased research results and affect the comprehensive understanding of folk song protection and inheritance strategies.In the English literature, methodological limitations are mainly reflected in the selection and application of specific studies, which may lead to biased results.For example, Zajedova and Rüütel (2014) used informal interviews and conversations to collect data, a method that relies on participants' memories and subjective representations and is susceptible to personal emotions and biases.Alexander Novik (2020) mainly analyzed folk festivals through descriptive and comparative methods, which may have failed to delve deeply into their socio-cultural background and deep meaning.Sabirova (2020) adopts theoretical logic analysis and historical comparison methods, which may be limited to a specific theoretical framework.The study by Kuang & He (2022) only provides an overview of the current status of folk music protection in Yunnan Province, rather than a comprehensive exploration.Huang & Song (2022) focused on case description and strategy refinement but ignored strategy classification and the construction of a theoretical system.In addition, studies such as Wulan et al (2019); Usua (2017); Dinç (2020) mainly rely on literature analysis and lack field empirical investigation or data collection, which affects the completeness and accuracy of the research.In terms of Chinese literature, most studies use qualitative research methods and mainly rely on literature analysis.Although qualitative research is suitable for research on folk song protection strategies, over-reliance on documentary analysis limits the depth and breadth of the research and cannot fully capture the current situation, challenges, and innovative strategies for folk song protection.

Research Gaps
In the process of exploring the protection and inheritance of folk songs, there is a lack of interdisciplinary perspective.Most research focuses on specific subject areas, such as folklore Novik (2020) 2024), but rarely Place the issue of folk song protection and inheritance in a broader disciplinary background for comprehensive consideration, such as applying theories and methods from sociology, anthropology, environmental science and other fields to the study of folk song protection to obtain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding and solution.
Community participation is widely considered to be the key to the protection of folk songs, especially in the research on the protection of Guangxi folk songs and Shaanxi folk songs (Le, 2014;Li, 2017;Tang, 2018;Kou,2020;Niu & Duan, 2024).However, how to mobilize and utilize community resources more effectively and how to achieve sustainable protection of folk songs through community participation is still an important area of research.Current research often emphasizes the importance of the participation of community members and the promotion of cultural education for the preservation of folk songs, but further exploration is needed on how to deepen this participation and utilization.
Although the application of digital means in folk song protection has been mentioned in Chinese and English literature Usua (2017); Shan (2016); Guo (2019); Wang (2020); Zhao (2020); Li (2023); Huang & Song (2022), but these studies tend to emphasize the role of digital methods in recording and preserving folk songs Guo (2019); Wang (2020) and focus on basic digital preservation and dissemination methods Zhao (2020); Li (2023); Huang & Song (2022); Usua (2017), such as creating digital archives Guo (2019); Zhao (2020), online platforms and social media strategies (Usua, 2017;Wang, 2020).However, there is a relative lack of in-depth research on the application of broader technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence, big data, and augmented reality, in the protection and inheritance of folk songs.These advanced technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way folk songs are preserved, such as understanding the propagation patterns of folk songs through big data analysis, using artificial intelligence to automatically classify and analyze songs, or providing new interactive methods for the learning and performance of folk songs through augmented reality technology.Therefore, the research gaps in this field point out the direction of technological innovation that can be explored in future folk song conservation research.

Solutions and Future Research
To fully address the limitations of folk song conservation research and fill existing research gaps, future research efforts need to adopt a more comprehensive, diverse, and innovative approach.This means that we first need to broaden the geographical and cultural horizons of research to include more regions and folk song cultures, and at the same time explore the similarities and differences between different regions through cross-cultural cooperation and comparative research.This approach will enhance the representativeness and generalizability of the study.
In terms of research methods, it is crucial to be able to combine qualitative and quantitative methods, such as interviews, questionnaires, case analysis, and statistical data analysis.This not only provides a more comprehensive perspective but also provides firsthand information through field research and direct contact with folk singers and audiences.In addition, introducing an interdisciplinary perspective, such as the integration of musicology, anthropology, sociology, and environmental science, will provide deeper insights into folk song conservation.At the same time, it also critical to emphasize the diversity and reliability of data sources.In addition to traditional documentary analysis, the use of archival materials, historical records, and musical composition analysis, as well as modern technologies such as social media analysis and online surveys, can help collect more comprehensive data.This mixed research approach helps to obtain a richer data set.
In terms of filling the research gap, future work needs to deepen the research on community participation, explore how to effectively utilize community resources, and promote the sustainable protection of folk songs through specific participatory methods.In addition, the application of technological innovation, such as the potential application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and augmented reality, will open up new possibilities for the protection and inheritance of folk songs and create a richer interactive experience.In addition, research should also further focus on systemic strategies such as policy formulation, educational promotion, and cultural tourism combined with folk songs to provide multi-faceted support and development.Through this multi-dimensional integration and exploration, future research will more comprehensively address the challenges of folk song protection and provide a solid foundation for the preservation of this important cultural heritage.

Conclusion
This review explores the key elements of folk song conservation strategies and the importance of community participation through a systematic literature review, highlighting how diverse approaches are adopted around the world to protect and pass on this valuable cultural heritage in the face of modern social changes.The research uses databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI, and combines it with the PRISMA method to ensure the comprehensiveness of literature collection and the depth of research.The research uses three major databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI, as well as the PRISMA method, ensuring the comprehensiveness of literature collection and the depth of academic research.The research results show that folk song protection strategies in different cultural and geographical backgrounds show significant differences.The English-language literature tends to have a global perspective, covering folk music and dance from multiple countries and regions.Chinese literature is more focused on the protection and inheritance of China's native folk songs, especially the study of ethnic minority music.
A key aim of the research was to summarize the core elements of folk song conservation strategies.The main strategies mentioned in several documents include government support, the formulation and enforcement of cultural heritage laws and regulations, education and training programs, and the use of modern technology for cultural inheritance.Of course, it was also mentioned that community participation plays an important role in the protection of folk songs because it directly affects the living inheritance and daily practice of cultural traditions.The role of the government and institutions is to provide the necessary support and protection framework to promote the continuity and vitality of folk song culture.However, research also shows that folk song protection still faces many challenges, such as the modern adaptation of traditional culture, insufficient funds and resources, and a lack of talent for protection and inheritance.
Although this study provides an in-depth understanding of folk song conservation strategies, there are some limitations.First, research mainly focuses on certain specific regions and lacks comparative analysis of different regions or cross-cultures.Second, most studies employ literature analysis within a qualitative approach, which may lead to a disconnect between theory and practice.In addition, there is relatively little discussion in the existing literature on how to achieve sustainable protection of folk songs through community participation and the application of technological innovation in folk song protection.Therefore, future research should consider more diversified research methods, including cross-regional or cross-cultural comparative studies and the use of technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis.
Finally, the results of this review not only enrich our understanding of folk song protection strategies but also provide practical implications for the protection and inheritance of folk songs on a global scale.The research highlights the importance of community participation and provides diverse conservation strategies that can not only be adapted to different cultural and social contexts but also promote the preservation and innovation of folk songs as an important cultural heritage.By summarizing conservation strategies in different regions, this study provides a valuable reference for folk song conservation on a global scale and promotes the preservation and innovation of this important cultural heritage.In summary, the methodological framework and research findings of this review are intended to provide in-depth insights and suggestions for future academic research and practice areas.

Figure 1
Figure 1 Study diagram flow based on PRISMA.