Liaocheng Acrobatics
01 · Historical Records
In the late Neolithic period, Liaocheng was a main area of activity of the Dongyi people; the Dongyi leader Chiyou is said to have been a master of acrobatics, and ancient acrobatics originated in the juedi (wrestling) drama, that is, the Chiyou drama. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Liaocheng acrobatics and circus shows saw initial development, and by the Han dynasty they were basically mature. In the early Republican period, Dong'e County alone had several dozen acrobatic and circus troupes. Some of these troupes once performed in Korea, Japan, and Singapore. In 1955, Dong'e County formally established eight circuses. In 1970, the Liaocheng Prefectural Acrobatics Troupe was founded. In 1993, the Ministry of Culture approved the establishment of the China Children's Acrobatics Base in Liaocheng and included it in the Dandelion Program of the State Council.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Liaocheng area is one of the birthplaces of Chinese acrobatics. During the Three Kingdoms period, acrobatics and circus shows were already very popular in the Dong'e area of Liaocheng, becoming a performance form centered on acrobatics while incorporating other skills. Cao Zhi, Prince of Dong'e, once described this scene in the lines "cockfights on the eastern suburban road, horses galloping among the long qiu trees." Historically the Yellow River frequently flooded, and many peasants, compelled to survive, had to abandon farming and take up the performing arts; villages such as Mengzhuang, Hezhuang, and Zhangdarenji in Dong'e County are famous acrobatics villages. In addition, Yanggu, Chiping, Shenxian, and Linqing had several dozen acrobatic troupes. Liaocheng acrobatics has a long history and has produced generations of performers, gradually forming an acrobatic trade-culture system rich in the characteristics of Qi and Lu (Shandong). Liaocheng acrobatics mainly comprises three categories — circus acts, magic, and performance — with emphasis on the strength of waist, legs, and headstands, and highlighting the new, the difficult, the marvelous, the beautiful, and the daring. Its artistic style is plain, gallant, and rugged; it has long been known as the "heroes of Qi and Lu" and is deeply loved by the broad masses.
The acrobat villages of Dong'e
Flooded repeatedly by the Yellow River, farmers of Dong'e turned to acrobatics; by the early Republic a single county supported dozens of troupes, and eight were formally organised in 1955.
The three divisions: animal acts, magic, performance
Liaocheng acrobatics divides into animal acts, magic and general performance, strongest in horsemanship and animal training.
Waist, leg and handstand foundations
The tradition prizes waist, leg and balancing foundations, stressing novelty, difficulty, wonder and daring in a plain, martial, rugged Shandong style.
The children's acrobatics base and the Dandelion school
Approved in 1993 and listed under the State Council's Dandelion plan, the base led to the founding of the Liaocheng Dandelion acrobatics school for young trainees.
The Chiyou play and Cao Zhi's verse
Legend makes the eastern Yi leader Chiyou an early acrobat, and the Three Kingdoms prince Cao Zhi described local horse-and-trick shows in verse.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Liaocheng acrobatics is now distributed in the counties of Dong'e, Chiping, and Yanggu and their surrounding areas.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
At present, although vigorous efforts have been made to explore and promote Liaocheng acrobatics, it still shows a tendency to decline. This is mainly because, with the improvement of living standards, acrobatics — formerly a means of making a living — no longer appeals to today's young people, resulting in a serious shortage of successors. Some highly accomplished acrobatic performers have gradually left the stage on account of advanced age, and some have passed away one after another, putting some unique skills in danger of being lost. Relying on the China Children's Acrobatics Base, the Liaocheng municipal government has established the Liaocheng Dandelion Acrobatics Art School to train reserve acrobatic talent. But this is still far from scientific, three-dimensional, comprehensive, and original-ecology protection; awareness of the rescue and protection of intangible heritage and the intensity of the work urgently need to be further strengthened.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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