Natural, tender and unstrained: Teresa Teng in Chinese and Japanese music education

Abstract

As a popular icon across several cultures in East and South East Asia, Teresa Teng demonstrated and promoted natural, tender and unstrained aesthetics for beautiful singing. Although never included in either Chinese or Japanese formal music education curricula, Teng’s music provided an alternative for people to express their emotions outside of school music education and gradually influenced the aesthetic standard for singing in music education for generations. Through historical and cultural reporting, as well as an autobiographical narration, this article explores the significant influence of Teresa Teng in Chinese and Japanese music education realms from the late twentieth century until today.