Jingbianpaolv
01 · Historical Records
According to the Guangxu-era "Gazetteer of Jingbian County", donkey running was already fairly prevalent in Jingbian during the Qing dynasty.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Jingbian donkey running is a song-and-dance form within the Jingbian shehuo of Shaanxi; in folk usage it is called "riding a donkey", "playing with the donkey", "stubborn donkey" or "driving a donkey", and it is transmitted mainly in such towns and townships of Jingbian as Ningtieliang Town, Dongkeng Town and Zhenjing Township. The performance techniques of donkey running are rich, its style distinctive, and it is full of the flavour of everyday life. The "donkey" is usually made by welding a frame of steel bars and iron wire and adding rotatable "bearings", with a support and four small wheels below; electric light bulbs serve as its eyes, and it is decorated with unprocessed materials such as rabbit skin, donkey hide, donkey ears and a donkey tail, so that the "donkey" becomes a "living prop". It can not only move its ears, wag its tail, blink its eyes and open its mouth, but also carry out difficult movements such as "a 360-degree reverse ride", "dismounting by the saddle" and "two riders on one donkey". It generally follows behind the yangge troupe for improvised performance; its chief feature is that the donkey is anthropomorphized, and in performance it is lifelike, expressive, humorous and witty, fully displaying the charm and value of folk art. It has taken part in many kinds of performance events and has had a considerable influence at home and abroad.
The donkey frame
The frame is welded from reinforcing bar and wire with a turning bearing, a stand and four small wheels; bulbs serve as eyes and rabbit and donkey skins dress it into a living prop.
The signature feats
The living prop allows feats such as the full-circle reverse riding, dismounting from the saddle and two riders on one donkey, performed impromptu behind the yangge troupe.
Playing both rider and donkey
Zhang Youwan performs rider and donkey at once, the lower body running, jumping, walking, lying and kicking while the upper body talks, sways and shrugs.
The local names of the form
Popularly known as riding, playing with, tugging or driving the donkey, it is a song-and-dance item of Jingbian shehuo in northern Shaanxi.
The Guangxu gazetteer and shehuo
The Guangxu gazetteer of Jingbian records the donkey dance as already flourishing in the Qing; attached to the shehuo procession, it humanises the donkey with wit and feeling.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Jingbian donkey running is transmitted in such towns and townships as Ningtieliang Town, Dongkeng Town and Zhenjing Township of Jingbian County, Shaanxi Province, and is a fixed item in the local shehuo procession. In performance the "donkey" follows the yangge troupe along and stops at any moment for an improvised act; the performer playing the rider makes the lower half of the body imitate the donkey's running, jumping, walking, lying down and kicking up its heels, while the upper half of the body enacts a person's speech, swaying at the waist and rubbing the shoulders, so that the man and the donkey are embodied by a single performer. The donkey-shaped prop is a frame welded from steel bars and iron wire, fitted with rotatable bearings, a support and small wheels, and decorated with materials such as rabbit skin, donkey hide, donkey ears and a donkey tail; it can move its ears, wag its tail, blink its eyes and open its mouth, and can perform difficult movements such as a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree reverse ride, dismounting by the saddle and two riders on one donkey.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Jingbian donkey running is marked by a rich and simple rural flavour and the breath of everyday life; it embodies the distinctive geographical environment and the long history of the locality, has research value for sociology and folklore, and is a representative artistic form of the northern Shaanxi region. At present this distinctive folk dance is already in an endangered state and urgently needs protection and transmission. Zhang Youwan (as recorded in the official file of the associated inheritor): Male, Han ethnicity, born in February 1943, native of Jingbian County, Shaanxi Province. He has loved literary and artistic activities since childhood, was influenced by the old artist Meng Zhanxiong, and often took part in donkey running performances; he is skilled at performing the man and the donkey at the same time, with the lower half of the body performing the donkey's running, jumping, walking, lying down and kicking up its heels and the upper half performing a person's speech, swaying at the waist and rubbing the shoulders, so that his overall style is detailed and lifelike. Representative inheritor of Jingbian donkey running, a national-level intangible cultural heritage project in the third national-level batch. Over the years he has persisted in taking part in all kinds of performances and has won many awards. He has long emphasized the training and coaching of young people, and has cultivated a large number of art lovers who are keen on donkey running performances.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Zhang Youwan 03-0937
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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