As one part of Beijing culture, Beijing storytelling (北京评书) is a kind of art of talking and singing in the Han nationality. It is said that it was handed down by Liu Jingting, an artist in the early period of Qing Dynasty. In 2008, Beijing storytelling was selected into the second batch of national intangible culture heritage. It one form of Beijing culture.
Beijing storytelling is regarded as the main body of the North storytelling, which came into being in Beijing and prevailed in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and three Northeastern Provinces of China. Throughout the history of the development, Beijing storytelling is divided into four periods: The early period of Qing Dynasty was viewed as the pioneering era with the representative figure of Wang Hongxing, known as the earliest ancestor.
The beginning of the Republic of China was the foundation period, when the representative figures are Shaung Houping and Pan Chengli. Beijing storytelling entered into its peak period in 1930s. At that time, many famous artists arose including Wang Jiekui, Lian Kuoru, Chen Shiru and so on. After the liberation, it developed into innovation period, Yuan Kuocheng, Lixinquan, Lianliru, etc as representative figures.
The stage property of early Beijing storytelling included a tale, a fan and a story-teller’s gavel. The story-teller in a long gown sat behind the table. Gradually, sitting storytelling turned into standing without fixed cloth. Before the formal performance, performer usually read a poem or tell a short story to attract auduentces.
Inheritor and Disseminator
Lian Liru, a celebrated female storytelling performer, enjoys the special government allowance. She learned the skill from his father in 1960. For a dozen years, she recodes more than 10 long storytellings in TV station. She was invited to perform in America and Malaysia, opening road toward the world for Chinese storytelling. Major works: Heroes of the Marshes, A Dream of Red Mansions, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Emperor of Kangxi, Legend of Liuyong, Royal Tramp and so on.
Yuan Kuocheng was born in an aristocratic family of storytelling. Yuan Jieting, Yuan Jieying (his uncles) and Yuan Jiewu (his father) are called “three luminaries of storytelling”. Yuan Kuocheng advocated in new storytelling. On the basis of traditional storytelling, Yuan Kuocheng formed another new performance: new content, new style and new language. Representative works include: Zhao Zilong, The Romance of the Three Kingdom, Yanqing Joining in the Onstage Contest, etc.
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