Liu Tianhua (1895-1932), a national musical instrument player, was born in Jiangyin, Jiangsu. He once taught at Peking University Music Institute, Beijing Women's Higher Normal School Music Department and Beijing Art School.

There is a story in his hometown: in the summer of 1920, many abscesses grew on his back, and the pain was unbearable. But he still insisted on practicing the piano, no matter how his family persuaded him to rest.

Liu Tianhua likes to sit in the courtyard at night and play the erhu and pipa. Jiangyin's summer is very hot and there are many mosquitoes, but people rarely see him fanning or chasing mosquitoes. He started to practice the piano, and he could practice it from after dinner until late at night, until he couldn't lift his left arm that was pressing the strings before he stopped.

While Liu Tianhua was suffering from sores, a friend went to visit him, only to hear the sound of the pipa but not to see him. Later, it was discovered that the sound of the pipa was coming from the kitchen, and a friend came to the kitchen to find out. Liu Tianhua was naked and his back was facing the red flames.

The friend asked in astonishment: "In the hot dog days, you are sitting by the stove and heating the fire. What's going on?"

Liu Tianhua smiled and said, "The sores on my back are too itchy. I can use fire to relieve the itching. I can avoid scratching with my hands and free my hands to practice the pipa."

In this way, Liu Tianhua worked hard to improve the national music. In 1927, the "National Music Improvement Society" was established. His works include Erhu tunes "Good Night", "Bright Walk", "Birds in the Sky" and "Pipa Etude".