In ancient times, the Xihoudu site in Ruicheng discovered in 1962 shows that people lived here as early as1800,000 years ago, which is the earliest human activity site discovered in China so far. In addition, there are more than 200 Paleolithic sites of Dingcun people, Xu Jiayao people and Zhiyu people in Shanxi. After the Paleolithic Age, more than 1000 sites of Yangshao culture of matriarchal clan and Longshan culture of paternal clan were discovered. During the Three Dynasties, the southern part of Shanxi, which was called "Hedong" in ancient times, was the place where the Yellow Emperor and Yao, Shun and Yu established their capitals and moved. According to legend, the Yellow Emperor fought against Chiyou and Yan Di successively in the "half-spring field". According to Shen Kuo's Meng Qian Bi Tan, Banquan is near Yancheng, and Qian Mu's Outline of National History also uses this statement. The legends of Pingyang (now Linfen), Puban, Shundu (now Yongji) and Duyu Anyi (this summer county) in Du Yao are also widely circulated, and the fire of civilization has been spreading here.
Shanxi folk songs, as a folk art form of Han nationality, have a long history, rich culture and are spectacular. Shanxi is known as "the ocean of folk songs". According to statistics, more than 20,000 folk songs have been collected.
Shanxi folk songs have a long history. Tian Yao has a saying in the sun, such as: "Do it at sunrise, rest at sunset, dig wells and drink, plow and eat, what is good for me!" ("Song of Beating the Earth") "The south wind can solve the worries of our people! When the south wind blows, we can enrich the wealth of our people! " ("Nanfeng Song"). Nineteen Tang-style poems included in The Book of Songs, the first poetry collection in China, are mostly produced in Shaanxi, among which "Chatan", "Shuoshu" and "Jie" are still widely circulated and have made great achievements.
Shanxi folk songs have distinct local characteristics and different artistic styles. There are more than 100 counties in Shanxi, almost every county has its own folk songs, and local folk songs also present different artistic styles. Generally speaking, it can be divided into four musical areas: southern Shanxi, southeastern Shanxi, northern Shanxi and Jinzhong. The folk songs in Huguan, Jincheng, Yangcheng, Qinshui and other places in southeastern Shanxi are simple; Folk songs in Hequ, Baode, Pianguan and other places in the north of Shanxi Province are characterized by high-pitched and high-pitched, large-pitched, with a unique sense of vastness and boldness bordering on the plateau, and are famous for their lyrical simplicity, pungent and simplicity. Jinnan folk songs are full of charm and warm feelings; The folk songs in Qixian, Taigu, Shouyang and Taiyuan in Jinzhong are flexible, free and changeable.