Jingdong Dagu Drum Balladry
01 · Historical Records
It was formed around the middle of the Qing dynasty. In different periods and different places it went by different names, among them Jingdong qie dagu, Leting diao, Pinggu diao dagu, Pinggu diao, Leting diao dagu, Siping diao dagu, Leting dagu (which shares its name but differs in substance from the Leting dagu formed and popularized in Leting County, Hebei), tiepian dagu, tieban dagu and Chengde local dagu. Jingdong dagu originated in the Sanhe and Xianghe areas of Hebei in eastern Jingdong and in Baodi, Tianjin, and became popular in Langfang, Chengde, Baoding and Tangshan of Hebei, in Huairou of Beijing and in Baodi of Tianjin. When it reached Tianjin in the early 20th century, it was performed in small quyi venues, mainly narrating and singing the long da shu masterworks. In the early 1930s, Liu Wenbin of Baodi, Tianjin, broadcast The Liu Gong Case on Tianjin's commercial radio station, and it was immensely popular with the broad masses; from that point the influence of Jingdong dagu grew day by day and later spread gradually to places such as Beijing and Tangshan. Before 1949, Jingdong dagu had many famous performers, among them Deng Diankui, Yu Qi, Wang Xianzhang, Liu Junhai, Fu Shiting, Zhang Shicheng, Shi Jinrong, Wang Peichen, Wei Xigeng, Liu Wenbin and Qi Wenzhou. In 1933, when the Xianghe performer Yu Jingyuan broadcast The Tale of Shi Lan on the Renchang radio station in Tianjin, he called it Jingdong dagu, and the name Jingdong dagu came into general use from then on. After 1949, the best known performer of Jingdong dagu was Dong Xiangkun, an amateur performer from Baodi, Tianjin. Through the tireless efforts of Dong Xiangkun and his colleagues, Jingdong dagu reached the peak of its development in the 1960s and 1970s, and the influence of the genre spread throughout the northern regions. Since the beginning of the 21st century, because inheritors have decreased and performances are scarce, Jingdong dagu has met an unprecedented crisis and urgently needs support and protection.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Jingdong dagu is a form of quyi drum ballad and drum tune performed by narrative singing in the Jingdong regional accent. The performance form is that one person beats the drum and sings standing, while others, each holding an instrument such as a sanxian or a yangqin, provide accompaniment. Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others. Keeping the traditional vocal style as its basis, he changed the use of the various Jingdong local accents in performance to narrative singing in Putonghua, further processed and standardized the vocal style, and went on creating new repertoire adapted to the development of the times, winning the deep affection of the broad audience.
Wang Po Scolds the Chicken
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Mouse Sues the Cat
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
Yang Bajie Tours the Spring
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
Beating the Reed Flowers
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Worthy Sister-in-Law
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Tale of the Galloping Riders
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
Lord Bao's Birth
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Case of Lord Liu
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Great Eight Righteous Men
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Lesser Eight Righteous Men
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Generals of the Yang Family
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Generals of the Hu Family
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Twin Reunion
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
The Revolt against the Tang
Its traditional repertoire and body of pieces is extremely rich. It includes the short drum tunes Wang Po Scolds the Chicken, The Mouse Sues the Cat, Yang Bajie Tours the Spring, Xiangzi Offers Birthday Greetings, Beating the Reed Flowers and The Worthy Sister-in-Law; the medium-length drum ballads The Tale of the Galloping Riders, Lord Bao's Birth, Wang Dingbao Pawns His Goods, Ge Hongxia Sweeps the North and The Case of Lord Liu; and the long drum ballads The Great Eight Righteous Men, The Lesser Eight Righteous Men, The Generals of the Yang Family, The Generals of the Hu Family, The Twin Reunion and The Revolt against the Tang, among others.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Baodi is one of the birthplaces of Jingdong dagu. In the early 1930s Liu Wenbin of Baodi broadcast The Liu Gong Case on Tianjin's commercial radio station, where it was immensely popular with the masses, so that the influence of the genre grew day by day; afterwards Dong Xiangkun replaced the various Jingdong local accents with Putonghua singing and further standardized the vocal style, and Ni Wanzhu became his disciple in 1976, being especially adept at the xiangua style of on-the-spot improvised singing.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Jingdong Dagu Drum Balladry.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Dong Xiangkun (as recorded in the official archive of the associated inheritor): In 1954 he became a disciple of the famous Jingdong dagu master Liu Wenbin. Building on the skills he inherited, he changed the Baodi local accent originally used into the Beijing accent. In his vocal style he drew on and fused together other art forms such as pingju, erren zhuan and shadow puppetry, creating a character that is crisp, bright, playful, trembling and gentle; in his articulation he stressed the brightness of timbre and the combined use of the chest and head voice. He created a series of new works portraying contemporary life, such as White Snow and a Red Heart and Seeing a Daughter off to University, which were deeply loved by the masses and spread widely. To promote the popularization and the learning of Jingdong dagu, he systematized the commonly used tunes, separately determining for each of them the name of the tune, its use, its sentence patterns, the level and deflected tone requirements of the characters used and the corresponding notation symbols, so that Jingdong dagu became standardized. He devoted his whole life to the transmission and dissemination of Jingdong dagu and trained a large number of disciples and amateur performers. Male, of the Han ethnicity, born in May 1927, died in May 2013, a native of Baodi County, Tianjin. Representative inheritor of the Jingdong dagu item in the third batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage. Ni Wanzhu (as recorded in the official archive of the associated inheritor): Male, of the Han ethnicity, born in November 1947, a native of Hedong District, Tianjin. In 1976 he became a disciple of Mr Dong Xiangkun and devoted himself to learning Jingdong dagu. Over decades of performance practice he worked hard and assiduously, and gradually formed his own technical characteristics: correct diction and full round tones, long and lingering resonance, a high register that never grates, a low register that turns smoothly, natural singing, and voice and feeling together. In addition, he is able to compose and perform on the spot according to the reactions of the audience in the hall, with excellent results. He has rich stage experience, and the Jingdong dagu xiangua, the art of on-the-spot improvised singing, in particular is loved and praised by ordinary people. His representative works include The Fool Goes to Meet His Bride, Seeing a Daughter off to University, White Snow and a Red Heart, Shanshan Paints a Picture and the Village of Longevity. Representative inheritor of the Jingdong dagu item in the fifth batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Dong Xiangkun 03-1160
- Ni Wanzhu 05-2484
- Cui Jichang 05-2485
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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