Population migration is not only very frequent in modern times but also often occurred in ancient times when transportation was inconvenient. In addition to the similar migration carried out now through the college entrance examination and employment, ancient times also had immigration due to capital relocation, escaping from wars, or defeat in wars. Regardless of which form, immigration, in essence, promotes cultural exchange and the joint construction of civilization.

In "Where Do We Come From," the author narrates the three-thousand-year history of immigration in our country. He elaborates on phenomena related to immigration, from the era of the great flood controller Yu to modern development zones, exploring the types, characteristics, and processes of historical immigration, as well as the relationship between immigration and territory, ethnicity, cultural exchange, and regional development. Due to migration, cultural exchanges and the fusion of artistic forms have occurred between different regions, and the author also explains the origins of place names in overseas Chinese communities and their cultural heritage.

The fusion of artistic forms resulting from immigration is most exemplified by Kunqu Opera. Kunqu Opera is one of the two Chinese projects included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the other being Guqin. It is known as an elegant art form due to its frequent use of classical Chinese literature, either composed by scholars or refined by them. Its predecessor is the Yiyang Opera from Jiangxi.

Under the Ming Dynasty's Weishu system (where military personnel and their families resided in Weicheng), the Jiangxi-based opera scholar Wei Liangfu moved to Taicang, Jiangsu, and interacted closely with singing and performing artists in the local garrison, frequently seeking their guidance. Building on the foundation of the Yiyang Opera, he incorporated the musical theory knowledge and experience of Taicang Weishu immigrants, with the assistance of local artists, ultimately forming the basic structure of Kunqu Opera.

It can be said that the formation of Kunqu opera is closely linked to immigration. However, the spread and profound influence of Kunqu opera are also intimately connected with immigration. Like most forms of opera that perform in dialects or combine Mandarin with classical Chinese, the audience for Kunqu opera must be able to understand its language. Therefore, Kunqu opera could establish markets in Shanghai, Taiwan, and even overseas, inevitably relying on the immigrants who moved to these places. In this sense, immigrants play a crucial role in cultural inheritance. It is precisely this interaction between immigration and culture that has shaped the rich and diverse face of Chinese opera.

Immigration not only affects art forms and dissemination but also has varying degrees of impact on naming conventions for surnames and regions, national character, territorial boundaries, and regional development, shaping the culture and lifestyle we have today.