![]() Many Chinese school children are sent to learn traditional calligraphy as an extracurricular activity. Today, Chinese calligraphy 书法 (shū fǎ) is still a highly respected and popular art form. ![]() Whereas Western calligraphy tools are usually ballpoint pens or markers, Chinese calligraphers use brush pens made from the finest animal hair. To start, the writing tools are different. Traditional Chinese calligraphy 书法 (shū fǎ) is very different from the calligraphy you see on wedding invitations. Check out this fantastic (and subtitled!) documentary about the Chinese shadow puppet shows and the masters who make and perform them! In the famous 1994 film To Live 活着 (huó zhe) , the main character Fugui was a shadow puppeteer. Shadow puppets are believed by many to be the oldest motion picture form of storytelling. The puppeteer manipulates the puppets and tells stories accompanied by music from a band of Chinese musical instruments. The puppets are made of leather - in fact, the Chinese name literally means “皮 (pí) - leather,” “ 影 (yǐng) - shadow,” and “戏 (xì) - play.” 皮影戏 (pí yǐng xì) - Shadow Puppet ShowsĬhinese shadow puppet shows 皮影戏 (pí yǐng xì) date back to the Han Dynasty, when the emperor popularized these shows at court. To hear more about classical Chinese instruments, check out our live Youtube Hangout with Yangyang and her friend Ma Jie (马捷 mǎ jié), and our blog introducing traditional Chinese music.ģ. Modern day musicians are finding ways to incorporate the Chinese zither 古筝 (gǔ zhēng) into rock, jazz, and even hip hop! The musician presses the strings with the left hand, and plucks the strings with the right hand, usually with picks attached to the tips of the fingers.Įven though the Chinese zither has been around for more than two thousand years - it has not lost its relevance in music. The Chinese zither 古筝 (gǔ zhēng) is a plucked musical string instrument dating from the warring states period. Picture a rectangular shaped harp, made of wood, and laid flat instead of standing up - that is the easiest (and oversimplified) way to describe the Chinese zither. Western fans have even come to China to learn the art, competing and performing in popular talent shows on CCTV. Chinese troupes that tour internationally have drawn attention from Western audiences. However, the art form has found new life outside of China. Additionally, it takes many years of arduous training from a young age to become a great Peking opera performer. In modern day, Peking opera has suffered a decline of viewership due to its inability to attract a modern audience. One such example is Farewell My Concubine- 霸王别姬 (bà wáng bié jī), a classic Peking opera that tells the tragic story of King Shang Yu and his beloved Consort Yu from the late Qin dynasty. But once you get past the painted faces, the performance itself tells stories that have been passed down for thousands of years in Chinese history. To a newcomer, Peking opera can be intimidating. Peking opera was extremely popular during the Qing dynasty, and is currently preserved as an art form throughout China and Taiwan. Praised as one of the national treasures of China, Peking opera 京剧 (jīng jù) combines skillful singing, graceful acrobatics, elaborate colorful costumes, and soulful storytelling to create a stage experience unlike any other. Here, we take a look at five major art forms, from traditional Chinese music to the gorgeous visual art. They are uniquely Chinese, and vastly different from the art styles of the west. That is a shame, since these traditional art forms offer a fascinating peek into Chinese culture from hundreds, if not thousands of years ago, and are still practiced even in today's hyper-modern China. Today, it seems like many of these traditional Chinese arts have disappeared off the radar. How much do you really know about the traditional Chinese art? If you're like most people: not much.Įven as a person who was born and raised in China, I was only introduced to traditional Chinese art by my grandpa, who is a dedicated fan of Chinese opera and calligraphy.
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