With most people staying at home because of COVID-19, livestreaming (直播) has taken off. It is not only fun and interesting, but has also provided a new stage (舞台) for traditional culture artists.
On video sites and apps such as Douyin and Bilibili, many traditional artists are trying livestreaming for the first time. Some of them sing Peking Opera, some show their hand-made products, while others perform classical Chinese music.
Li Jun is a laosheng (old male role) Peking Opera performer with the Shanghai Jingju Theater Company. During the outbreak, the 59-year-old started livestreaming for the first time. Unlike performing on a formal stage, Li uses everyday places as his stage, including his backyard, study room, and even the kitchen. Besides singing, Li also teaches viewers about Peking Opera in a humorous way. People can ask him questions and get answers directly.
"Livestreaming has brought this elegant (高雅的) art down to earth," one viewer said. "It allows young people to get closer to this traditional art and learn more about it." Up to now Li has more than 6,000 fans on Douyin, while one of his videos has received 42,000 views on Bilibili.
Other kinds of artists also see livestreaming as a new opportunity. On March 26, the third China Huafu Day, Bilibili livestreamed a fashion show. Performers presented beautiful clothes in traditional Chinese styles, including those from the Wei (220-265), Tang (618-907) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. During the show, viewers not only enjoyed seeing the clothes but also watching how performers use ancient styles of make-up. For example, one blogger taught people how to draw the guiye eyebrow (桂叶眉) which was a typical make-up style during the Tang Dynasty.
As Guangming Daily noted, livestreaming has created a new way in which traditional culture can be kept alive.
