###### Abstract
For culturally rich but endangered music forms, AI enables large-scale digitization and cataloging of musical materials, making preservation efforts more sustainable and accessible. Additionally, AI can support ethnomusicologists and cultural institutions in analyzing and interpreting complex musical characteristics, such as rhythm patterns, tonal structures, and thematic motifs, which are often unique to specific ethnic music traditions. Figure 1: Population proportion and distribution of the Manchu ethnic group in China. Several online platforms serve as hubs for such efforts, providing resources for the digitization and analysis of ethnic music. Examples include the following:  
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings ([[https://folkways.si.edu/](https://folkways.si.edu/)]([https://folkways.si.edu/](https://folkways.si.edu/)), accessed on 1 November 2024): A comprehensive collection of world music, with a focus on preserving traditional and indigenous music. European Music ([[https://www.europeana.eu/en/collections/topic/44-music](https://www.europeana.eu/en/collections/topic/44-music)]([https://www.europeana.eu/en/collections/topic/44-music](https://www.europeana.eu/en/collections/topic/44-music)), accessed on 1 November 2024): A digital repository that offers access to diverse musical heritage across Europe, including traditional and folk music. Internet Archive--Ethnomusicology ([[https://archive.org/details/ethnomusicology](https://archive.org/details/ethnomusicology)]([https://archive.org/details/ethnomusicology](https://archive.org/details/ethnomusicology)), accessed on 1 November 2024): A large digital library featuring a collection of audio materials, including field recordings of traditional music from various cultures. The Global Jukebox ([[https://theglobaljukebox.org/](https://theglobaljukebox.org/)]([https://theglobaljukebox.org/](https://theglobaljukebox.org/)), accessed on 1 November 2024): An interactive platform that allows users to explore and compare the traditional music and dance of cultures worldwide. These platforms not only facilitate the preservation and dissemination of ethnic music but also provide valuable data for AI-driven research in ethnomusicology. Creating datasets specifically tailored to ethnic music like that of the Manchu allows AI models to recognize, classify, and replicate musical patterns that are culturally significant, yet often underrepresented in mainstream datasets [17]. These datasets provide a foundation for both academic research and public engagement, helping ensure that such musical traditions are not only preserved in digital archives but also made accessible for study, reinterpretation, and transmission to future generations. Through AI-based dataset construction, the essence of Manchu music--its distinctive melodies, rhythms, and cultural contexts--can be accurately represented and studied, fostering deeper cultural appreciation and promoting global awareness of the Manchu musical heritage. In this way, the intersection of AI and cultural preservation opens up new possibilities for protecting intangible heritage. It allows researchers, educators, and cultural advocates to leverage advanced technology to support traditional knowledge systems, ensuring that invaluable cultural expressions like Manchu music are documented, celebrated, and made accessible for generations to come.