This is a typical(典型的) day for Yang Jinlong.
At 9 a. m. , he drives to primary schools and middle schools in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, to teach students about Shaanxi kuaiban. It is a traditional Chinese form of storytelling to the rhythm(节奏) of bamboo clappers(响板), which the art form is named after. Sometimes, he helps students prepare for competitions. Usually, his classes run until about 6. p.m. , and then he returns home to prepare classes for the next day.
On June 10, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced 325 national intangible cultural heritage(非物质文化遗产) items in Beijing, increasing the list to 1, 557 items. Shaanxi kuaiban, which appeared during the late Qing Dynasty, has been included. The art form has been introduced to local schools as part of their art education.
Yang has been teaching young people the art form since 2003 after graduating from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in Beijing. He studied quyi there. Quyi is general term for Chinese folk art forms, including storytelling, crosstalk and clapper talk.
"Art education is important for students in China. Just as many students learn to play Western musical instruments like the piano and violin, there are many people learning traditional Chinese folk arts, including Shaanxi kuaiban, which I'll work for my whole life," he said.
Kuaiban is popular in northern China, including Beijing and Tianjin. According to Yang, Shaanxi kuaiban was influenced by the art of different areas. The art form can be played by a group of players or only one. With one or two pairs of kuaiban of different sizes in hand, the players speak in the local dialect(方言) while telling stories, which are usually about heroes. The player tells stories while playing kuaiban, and it's easy for the watchers to remember the stories since all the lines rhym.
Thanks to artists like Yang, this traditional Chinese form of storytelling is passed on and stays alive in our country.
